American Toad
(Anaxyrus americanus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N5 - Secure
S5 - Secure
Minnesota
not listed
Description
American Toad is the most common toad in Minnesota. It can be 2″ to 4″, averaging 3″, at maturity.
The background color is usually brown, rarely greenish, red, or gray. There are 3 or 4 pairs of brown to black spots, sometimes bordered in white, on the back. There is often a pale line down the center of the back. Each spot contains 1 or 2 large warts. There are 2 cranial ridges between the eyes. These ridges do not join at the front or back. There are 2 large swellings behind the eyes. These are the paratoid glands, which secrete a toxin to discourage predators. The belly is pale with dark spots. The throat of the male is dark.
Size
Total length: 2″ to 4″
Voice
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), Midwest Region
Frog and Toad Calls
The call of the male is a high-pitched trill lasting 10 to 30 seconds. The pitch remains constant throughout the call, it does not rise. Other toads may answer with an overlapping call in a the same or a different pitch.
Similar Species
Canadian Toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys) background color is lighter, white or light brown. The warts on the back may be black, brown, or reddish. The 2 cranial ridges join at the rear to form a prominent bump (boss). In Minnesota it is found only in the west-central and northwest regions.
Habitat
A wide variety of habitats, from forests to prairies, with semi-permanent water adjacent to dense vegetation.
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
5 to 8 years
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid in the early May. Larvae hatch in 3 to 12 days. The tadpole stage lasts 40 to 70 days. Toadlets emerge in late June or early July.
Sexual maturity is reached in 2 or 3 years. Most individuals do not survive the tadpole stage. Those that do may reach 10 years of age, but most reach only 5 to 8 years of age in the wild.
Adults hibernate in the coldest winter months and may aestivate during the hot, dry months of summer.
Tadpole Food
Algae, plant tissue, organic debris
Adult Food
Small terrestrial insects and other invertebrates
Distribution
Sources
Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 12/28/2025).
USGS National Amphibian Atlas. https://armi.usgs.gov/atlas/. Accessed 12/28/2025).
Occurrence
Common and abundant
Taxonomy
Class
Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order
Anura (Frogs)
Family
Bufonidae (True Toads)
Genus
Anaxyrus (North American Toads)
Genus
This species was formerly classified Bufo americanus. In 2006 all North American true toads (family Bufonidae) were transferred out of the genus Bufo by Frost et al., and several new genera, including Anaxyrus, were created.
Subordinate Taxa
dwarf American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi)
eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) 
Synonyms
Anaxyrus charlesmithi
Bufo americanus
Bufo americanus alani
Bufo americanus americanus
Bufo americanus charlesmithi
Bufo americanus copei
Bufo americanus quadripunctatus
Bufo copei
Bufo lentiginosus americanus
Bufo terrestris americanus
Bufo terrestris charlesmithi
Bufo terrestris copei
Chilophryne americana
Incilius americanus
Common Names
American Toad
Glossary
Aestivate
A period of reduced metabolic activity in the summer, similar to hibernation.
Visitor Photos
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Jessica Claire
Frog expert?
I'm messaging because I've gotten myself into a pickle.
I made a frog pond in the spring, however there are still many tadpoles (and snails) in the water.
I am now aware some overwinter as tadpoles, but the pond is no deeper than 2'.
I do have a sheet liner in the pond, for what that's worth.
I don't want to kill any of the life in the pond, so I'm very open to suggestions!
Thank you very much in advance!
John Beltman
Wayne Rasmussen
Minnesota Seasons Photos
Slideshows
Visitor Videos
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Dan W. Andree
720p "Color Variations in the American Toad" filmed by Dan W. Andree 2015
Published on Nov 11, 2015
Other Videos
Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
WisCBMnetwork
Eastern American Toad Tadpole Die Off
Scott Tucker
American Toad calling
HerpNet
American Toads calling 2
HerpNet
Visitor Sightings
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Alfredo Colon
8/29/2022
Location: Albany, NY
Alfredo Colon
8/21/2022
Location: Albany, NY
Alfredo Colon
8/18/2022
Location: Albany, NY
John Beltman
6/17/2022
Location: Pokegama Dam, Itasca County
"Big Bufo"
Alfredo Colon
6/2/2021
Location: Woodbury, MN
Alfredo Colon
August 2019
Location: Slinger, Wisconsin
Alfredo Colon
7/2/2018
Location: Woodbury, MN
… the size of a quarter They were sunbathing on leaves.
Bill Reynolds
June 2018
Location: Pennington Co MN
Brian Blom
8/24/2017
Location: Crow Wing County, Deerwood
Wayne Rasmussen
5/31/2016
Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
This is one of Minnesota's best known herp species. Adults are 2 to 3 1/2 inches snout to vent. The ground color is highly variable, but it is usually a shade of brown. Rarely it is gray, red, or greenish. There are black spots on the back. These spots contain one or two warts. These black spots often have a white border. They have an oval partoid gland behind each eye. The belly is white or yellowish and is heavily mottled with black. There is usually a light mid dorsal stripe down the back.
Wayne Rasmussen
5/31/2006
Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
American Toad found in Nerstrand Big Woods SP a few years ago. Hiking here will usually provide wildlife of some kind or flowers in the spring.
Minnesota Seasons Sightings
