Yosemite Toad

Anaxyrus canorus

Reptiles & Amphibians4.5 to 7.5 cmIn the app

The Yosemite toads are moderate-sized, thickset toads with an average snout-to-vent length between 1.8-3.0 inches (although females are usually larger). Yosemite toads sh…

How to identify

The Yosemite toads are moderate-sized, thickset toads with an average snout-to-vent length between 1.8-3.0 inches (although females are usually larger). Yosemite toads show the highest degree of sexually dichromatism, the difference in coloration, pattern, and size between the sexes is strong. The males exhibit brighter colors and are olive-green to yellow-green, and they sport small dark flecks. The females have a brown or gray coloration with bigger dark spots. Both sexes have large, smooth warts and smooth skin between these warts. The eyes have a dark brown iris with gold-colored iridophores. The juveniles have a mid-dorsal stripe that disappears as they age. The juvenile males lose their black blotches as they develop as well. But in the female, the blotches expand and reticulate.

Range

These toads can only be found in California. Populations can be found in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Their range includes the Blue Lakes region of Ebbets Pass to Kaiser Pass near Evolution Lake in the Darwin Canyon.

Habitat

They thrive in wet mountain meadows mostly near pine forests. Yosemite toads are found near permanent bodies of water, although they spend most of their time terrestrially. They live in high elevations (between 1950-3450 meters). These amphibians dig under the soil and seek shelter beneath rocks, fallen logs and during the night, in abandoned rodent holes. The breeding season begins in May because melted ice causes shallow pools. Females lay eggs in a cluster and may lay between 1300-2000 eggs. Yosemite toad larvae feed on plankton and detritus while the adults eat many types of insects like weevils, beetles, millipedes, and small arachnids like spiders.

Similar species

The Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) is bigger than Anaxyrus canorus with an average length between 2.2-5.1 inches. The best differentiating feature between this toad and the closely related Yosemite toad is its white or yellowish-cream dorsal stripe. Another is that the parotoid glands in the western toad are not as wide as in the Yosemite toad. The Black Toad (Anaxyrus exsul) is averagely 2.0 inches long. It also has black skin with white flecks. This species of toad doesn’t hop, the gait is more of a walk. This species of toad doesn’t have the sexual dichromatism apparent in Anaxyrus canorus. The Amargosa Toad (Anaxyrus nelsoni) is bigger with an average total length between 3-5 inches. This toad has a light stripe that runs down the center of its back. The skin is black or brown with a blotched underside with blotches.