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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: American Toad
Synonyms and Other Names: Bufo americanus (see first paragraph of Remarks section)
Taxonomy: available through 
Size: generally up to 9 cm
Native Range:
The Mid-Atlantic states except for southeastern Virginia, southern New Jersey, Long Island, and the islands of Massachusetts.
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 Alaska |
Hawaii |
Caribbean |
Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences: Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts.
Means of Introduction: In 1976, the American toad was first documented on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts and it was breeding there by 1979. It was stocked on the island after the native Fowlers Toad was exterminated due to pesticide spraying.
Status:
Impact of Introduction: Other than the intended shift in toad species, impacts have not been reported. A. americanus eats insects (100 per night), slugs, and earthworms; and is preyed upon by raccoons, herons, snakes, and birds of prey.
Remarks:
Frost et al. (2006) divided New World bufoinds into a number of new or revised genera. North American “Bufo” were placed into the new genus Anaxyrus (Frost et al., 2006; Crother, 2008; Collins and Taggart, 2009). Scientific and standard English names follow Crother (2008).
Found in terrestrial areas associated with shallow ephemeral wetlands, eddies in streams or shallow pools used for breeding. Up to 20,000 eggs are laid during March to July depending on local climate. Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years of age.
References
Collins, J.T. and T.W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth Edition. Publication of The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrence. iv + 44p.
Crother, B.I. (chair). Committee on Standard and English and Scientific Names. 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular. No. 37. iii + 86p.
Frost, D. R., T. Grant, J. Faivovich, R. H. Bain, A. Haas, C. F. B. Haddad, R. O. De Sá, A. Channing, M. Wilkinson, S. C. Donnellan, C. J. Raxworthy, J. A. Campbell, B. L. Blotto, P. Moler, R. C. Drewes, R. A. Nussbaum, J. D. Lynch, D. M. Green, and W. C. Wheeler. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 297:1-370 + Fig. 50 foldout.
Grossman, S. 2002. Bufo americanus American Toad [online].
Author: Denise Gregoire
Revision Date: 10/26/2009 Citation for this information:
Denise Gregoire. 2009. Anaxyrus [=Bufo] americanus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=44> Revision Date: 10/26/2009
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