Great Plains Toad Anaxyrus cognatus - Special Concern


Description: 3 - 4 inches. Great Plains Toads vary in color from brown, green, or gray, with large dark blotches on the back. The belly is plain white, but may occasionally have some spots. There are two large glands on the back of the head (parotoid glands) that touch the ends of the end of the small ridge behind each eye (cranial crests). The cranial crests meet in front of the eyes to form a point.

Similar Species: American Toads have dark spots or speckles on the belly.

Comments: Restricted to the grasslands of western Minnesota.

Distribution Map
Distribution of the Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)

This map is generated from data provided by the Bell Museum of Natural History and HerpMapper.org. Please help us keep it up-to-date by submitting your amphibian and reptile observations.

Phenology of Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)
Audio

Individual great plains toads calling. Courtesy of Christopher E. Smith.

Mixed chorus of great plains toads, American toads, Cope's gray treefrogs, northern leopard frogs, and boreal chorus frogs. Courtesy of Christopher E. Smith.

Photographs