Colorado River toad

Description:

The Colorado River toad can grow to about 7.5 inches (190 mm) long and is the largest toad in the United States apart from the non-native cane toad (Bufo marinus). It has a smooth, leathery skin and is olive green or mottled brown in color. Just behind the large golden eye with horizontal pupil is a bulging kidney-shaped parotoid gland. Below this is a large circular pale green area which is the tympanum or ear drum. By the corner of the mouth there is a white wart and there are white glands on the legs. All these glands produce toxic secretions. Dogs that have attacked toads have been paralyzed or even killed. Raccoons have learned to pull a toad away from a pond by the back leg, turn it on its back and start feeding on its belly, a strategy that keeps the raccoon well away from the poison glands

Habitat:

The Colorado River toad is found in the lower Colorado River and the Gila River catchment areas, in south east California, New Mexico and Mexico and much of Southern Arizona. It lives in both desert and semi-arid areas throughout its range. It is semi-aquatic and is often found in streams, near springs, in canals and drainage ditches and under water troughs. It often makes its home in rodent burrows, and is nocturnal. It has a loud, piercing call.

Notes:

Poisonous