A high-elevation toad with warty olive-brown skin and a pale dorsal stripe. Populations have crashed 75–90% across the Rockies since the 1970s, primarily from chytrid fungus.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The boreal toad is the nominate subspecies of the western toad. They are commonly found in the western U.S. and western Canada. Boreal toad populations have declined recently due to an emerging amphibian disease, chytrid fungus. The boreal toad is currently listed as an endangered species by Colorado and New Mexico. It is known in Colorado as the only alpine species of toad.
Source: Wikipedia — Boreal toad Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Warty olive-brown skin with pale dorsal stripe; rounded snout.
Similar species. Western Toad (overlapping range, similar). Spadefoots (smooth skin, vertical pupils).
Voice. Soft hard-to-hear chirps.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, small invertebrates.
Behavior. High-elevation toad of the Rocky Mountains; populations have crashed 75–90% across range from chytrid fungus.
§ Range
Rocky Mountains, Cascades, Sierra Nevada at higher elevations
§ Habitat
Mountain wet meadows, beaver ponds, spring-fed wetlands
§ Threats
Chytrid fungus, habitat loss, drought, climate-driven snowpack changes.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the boreal toad is currently classified as Endangered.
§ What helps
Donate to amphibian disease research. Don't move toads or pond water between watersheds. Support mountain wetland protection.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Boreal toad
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Anaxyrus boreas boreas
- IUCN Red List · taxon 54743
- iNaturalist · taxon 25517
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Anaxyrus boreas boreas
§ Sources cited
- USGS ARMI
- AmphibiaWeb
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- IUCN Red List 2014
