Bufo valliceps
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| iGulf Coast Toad | ||||||||||||||
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| Bufo valliceps Weigmann, 1833 |
The Gulf Coast Toad (Bufo valliceps) is a species of toad native to the United States, in the states of Louisiana and Texas, and south into Mexico around the Gulf of Mexico region.
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[edit] Description
Gulf coast toads are a medium sized toad species, ranging from 2" to 4" in length. Their back varies in color from nearly black, to shades of brown and grey with a distinctive white or yellowish colored stripe down the center, and sometimes lighter colored patches on the sides. Their underside is yellow or cream colored. Their back is covered in small tubercles, while their underside is normally devoid of them.
It is often confused with other species of toad, such as Bufo americanus, Bufo fowleri, or Bufo terrestris. The primary way to determine the difference between species is the shape of the cranial ridges. B. valliceps has the most extensive ridging of any toad in its geographic range. The ridges extend from the nose, to the back of the head. With a branch that wraps around the back side of the eye.
[edit] Habitat
It is found in a wide range of habitats including: open grassland, semi-arid regions, light forest, and even suburban backyards. They are typically found not far from a permanent water source, which they use for breeding in the spring, but they are capable of travelling long distances while foraging for food.
[edit] Diet
Like most toads, the gulf coast toad is an opportunistic carnivore. It will eat most any small arthropod it is able to overpower and swallow.
[edit] References
- Santos-Barrera et al (2004). Bufo valliceps. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
