Critter Science

The Sonoran desert toad is Arizona’s largest toad and one of the largest toads in North America. These toads are notorious for their poisonous paratoid glands behind their eyes, on either side of their head. These toads are found in central Arizona to southwestern New Mexico and Sinaloa, Mexico around oak, desert scrub, semi-desert grasslands, and sometimes pine-oak woodlands up to elevations of around 5,800 feet. They usually reside near permanent water sources. These toads come out in large numbers during the monsoon season and sometimes a couple months before, in areas with a permanent water source.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Incilius alvarius Weight: Up to 2 lbs. Length: Up to 8 inches Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) Desert toads, like most toads, are nocturnal (active at night).

2.) They eat centipedes , insects, spiders, lizards, mice , and other amphibians. But they will eat just about anything they can get into their mouths, to be honest.

3.) Another name for these toxic toads is the Colorado River toad or sapo grande, which translates to “big frog”.

4.) Throughout the dry season, the Sonoran desert toad will hide and brumate in rodent burrows or other underground retreats.

5.) Their toxins have hallucinogenic qualities in humans and can cause nausea and extreme vomiting. If enough of the toxin is ingested it can cause death, even in humans.

But wait, there’s more on the Sonoran desert toad! 6.) Symptoms of poisoning in pets include: pawing at the mouth and/or eyes, crying or other vocalizations, excessive drooling, inflamed or pale membranes in the mouth, difficulty breathing, unstable movements, seizures, high temperature, and eventual collapse & death ( if not treated immediately ).

7.) During mating season, males will develop nuptial pads on the thumbs of their forelimbs, to help hang on during amplexus (when the male grasps the female in a kind of coitus position).

Did you know…? Their gland secretions are highly toxic to dogs , cats , and other small to medium size pets! Neurotoxins containing 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin cause a host of issues and can even lead to death!

8.) Males either call for females from shallow pools of water of their breeding pond or physically search for females.

9.) Females lay up to 8,000 eggs in a long gelatinous “stringer”.

10.) Tadpoles emerge in about a month or less and begin their metamorphosis into adult toads.

Now a Short Sonoran Desert Toad Video!

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Organisms that are nocturnal are active at night. Animals that fit into this category are typically prey animals that rely on the cover of darkness as a defense. Granted, there are no shortage of predators at night. Some organisms adopt a nocturnal lifestyle due to climate issues. Many desert dwelling animals are nocturnal as it is simply cooler outside at night. Aardvarks , badgers , bandicoots , and aye-ayes are just some examples of nocturnal creatures.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips19','

Reptiles undergo this type of dormancy during the late phases of autumn. They typically only wake up to consume water and then go back to sleep. Reptiles eat a great deal of food right before brumation since they can go for months without eating anything. This dormancy can last for about 8+ months depending on the age, health, and size of the reptile in question. This type of dormancy is typically begun by a decrease in daylight and with the onset of cold weather. Reptiles usually don’t brumate during the first year of their lives; rather they simply slow their movements and eat less.');

poison

The Sonoran Desert Toad

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