- Oak Toad
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Oak Toad 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibian Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Anaxyrus Species: A. quercicus Binomial name Anaxyrus quercicus
(Holbrook, 1840)Synonyms Bufo quercicus
The Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family. It is endemic to the coastal regions of southeastern United States.[1] It is regarded as the smallest species of toad in North America, with a length from 19 to 33 mm (0.75 to 1.3 in).[1]
Description
The Oak toad is carnivorous, and eats mainly insects. They can be identified by their light mid-dorsal stripe, variable brown and black spots, and proportionally large parotoid glands. Oak toads are usually active during the day and can be found in southern pine forests by turning over logs and other woodland debris. Breeding takes place in shallow pools that result from heavy rains. Unlike other toads of the region, which have round vocal sacs, calling males have an elongate vocal sac that extends dramatically in producing his chirp-like call.
Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, intermittent freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, ponds, irrigated land, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Source
- Pauly, G. B., D. M. Hillis, and D. C. Cannatella. (2004) The history of a Nearctic colonization: Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of the Nearctic toads (Bufo). Evolution 58: 2517–2535.
- Hammerson, G. 2004. Bufo quercicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 21 July 2007.
References
- ^ a b University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Retrieved on 21 October 2008
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Anaxyrus
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