ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Fowler's Toad

 Fowler's Toad

Fowler's toad
Toads have dry, warty skin and hop. Toads have long been blamed for causing warts and have been associated with witchcraft since earliest times. The bumps that appear to be warts are actually glands. All of them produce a liquid that burns the sensitive mouth tissues of other animals. This is especially true of the large bump behind each eye and the paratoid gland. Most predators quickly drop a toad because of this irritation and learn to avoid the toad in the future. Toads may also expel water from their bladder when they are picked up. Both substances are completely harmless to people, though they can burn the mouth and eyes.

The Fowler's toad was named in honor of S.P. Fowler, an early naturalist from Massachusets.

Fowler's Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri

At-a-Glance

• Typical foods: slugs, earthworms, sowbugs, and a wide variety of insects and larvae.

• Length: 2-3 inches
Description
This toad is unspotted on the chest and belly, unlike the American toad that it crossbreeds with. It also has no enlarged warts on the thighs.

Habitat and Habits
The Fowler's toad ranges throughout the state, but seems to prefer a more sandy habitat than do American toads. Its song is an unmusical nasal w-a-a-a-h lasting from one to four seconds, whereas the American toad ’s song is a high-pitched musical trill lasting from 6 to 30 seconds.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Fowler's toads breed in the spring and deposit eggs in open, shallow waters such as ponds and marshes. The eggs will hatch in two to seven days and tadpoles will complete metamorphosis 30 to 40 days later.