Belonging to the Bufonidae family is called the Arizona toad. Its native habitats are temperate lowland woods, ponds, open excavations, irrigated land, and periodically flooded agricultural land in the south-western United States. Despite having little defense against predators, these little toads have a parotoid gland that secretes a toxic substance with an unpleasant flavor. Raccoons, birds, and reptiles are examples of common predators.
Appearance
Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) belonging to the Bufonidae family is called the. Its native habitats are rivers, temperate lowland woods, streams, freshwater marshes, swamps, freshwater springs, irrigated land, open excavations, ponds and periodically flooded agricultural land in the south-western United States.
Geographic Range and Habitat
The range of this species extends over Arizona, western New Mexico, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. In Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, it is an endangered species. The toads are typically located near streams in sandy areas up to 100 meters (330 feet) away, frequently in areas with flood channels and dense willow clumps or on neighbouring sandy terraces with live oaks and cottonwoods. After the breeding season is complete, they also go into irrigated fields and can be seen around ponds, reservoirs and other impounded places.
Diet
The Arizona Toad spends the day cooling off in sandy burrows before dusk. They emerge to hunt for a diverse range of invertebrates, including snails, ants, spiders, and crickets.
Reproduction
Warming temperatures, not rain, cause this species to reproduce. To make sure there are still shallow locations along streams to lay their eggs, they will hold off on breeding until the water levels have decreased. Under the water, they will deposit about 4,500 eggs in slimy threads. Less than a week after being laid, the eggs normally hatch. The rate at which tadpoles develop into adults is influenced by environmental conditions, the availability of resources, and a few other factors.
As Pet
No, they wouldn’t be suitable pets. It is preferable to allow them to live in their natural environment.
Table
