General Description: Boreal Toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) are large toads with large warts set in dark spots, a light dorsal stripe, and no cranial crests.

Taxonomy: Order Frogs and Toads (Anura); Family True Toads (Bufonidae). Formerly Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas) and Western Toad (Bufo boreas).

Technical Description: Body size to 5 in. Dorsal stripe white or cream. Cranial crests absent. Parotid glands oval, slightly larger than upper eyelid. Tarsal fold well developed. Dorsal color gray to green with large dark spots tinged with rust. Larger warts set in the dark spots. Tends to walk rather than hop. Ventral color light with dark blotches. In some populations, toads are all black, including a black belly.

Diet: Insects.

Habitat: Springs, desert streams, grasslands, woodland, and mountain meadows near water.

Range: This species occurs throughout the western U.S. and Canada from southwestern coastal Alaska south along the coast to Baja California and eastward to central Colorado. In our area, the Boreal Western Toad occurs in most of Nevada south to about the Nevada Test Site.

Breeding: Breeds January to July, depending on temperatures. Amplexis pectoral.

Similar Species: The Woodhouse Toad has conspicuous cranial crests or a small boss between the eyes.

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