Amphibian · GBIF taxon 2422941
Canadian Toad
Anaxyrus hemiophrysAlso known as Dakota Toad
Canadian toads are hardy amphibians uniquely adapted to the harsh, cold climates of the northern Great Plains. They spend the brief summer foraging in prairies and wetlands, then survive freezing winters by burrowing deep into loose soil below the frost line, often hibernating communally in large numbers. Their distinctive, swollen cranial crests fuse to form a prominent bony hump between their eyes, giving them a perpetually furrowed expression.
AmphibianBurrowingCold-Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Ants
- Spiders
Predators
- Garter Snakes
- Crows
- Badgers
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, and agricultural chemical runoff
HabitatsPrairies, aspen parklands, wetlands, and lake margins
Life span8 to 12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBufonidae
- SpeciesAnaxyrus hemiophrys
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Skin secretions are toxic to pets if ingested; wash hands thoroughly after handling.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Look for breeding males in spring by listening for their short, high-pitched metallic trills.
- Handle Gently: Wet your hands before touching to protect their sensitive, semi-permeable skin from oils.
- Watch the Ground: Scan prairie paths during warm summer evenings when these nocturnal hunters are most active.
Competitor (c) brybrysciguy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator "Plains Garter Snake" by Greg Schechter is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · cc-by-sa
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