Western toad
Anaxyrus boreas
A robust and adaptable terrestrial toad widespread in Western North America, known for its burrowing habits and preference for cool conditions.
Environnement
Terrestre
Humidité
50 - 70 %
Température diurne
18 - 22 °C
Température nocturne
14 - 16 °C
Température ambiante
18 - 22 °C
Température de brumation
4 - 8 °C
Enclos minimal
>= 45 L
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Anaxyrus boreas is an anuran amphibian native to the western regions of North America. Its vast geographic range extends from southern Alaska and British Columbia, through the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, down to northern California and the northern part of Baja California in Mexico, reaching as far east as Colorado. It inhabits a remarkable variety of environments, including mountain meadows, damp forests, river valleys, wetlands, and even desert areas near permanent or seasonal water sources, at altitudes ranging from sea level to over 3600 meters.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Bufonidae, genus Anaxyrus (formerly classified under the genus Bufo, as Bufo boreas). Two subspecies are generally recognized: the nominate Anaxyrus boreas boreas (boreal toad) and Anaxyrus boreas halophilus (California toad). Genetically, populations display high variability due to geographic fragmentation, a factor that has prompted detailed phylogenetic studies to assess the conservation status of isolated mountain populations.
Behavior and Habits: This is a predominantly terrestrial and fossorial species. During the summer months or in warm areas, it is strictly nocturnal, spending the day inside burrows dug by itself or small mammals, or under damp logs and rocks. In cooler mountain areas or during spring, it is also active during the day. In winter, it enters a long period of underground hibernation in burrows below the frost line. It lacks an external vocal sac, so it does not produce a loud call, but emits a soft chirping sound when handled.
Morphology: It displays the robust, warty body typical of toads. Adults generally measure between 5 and 12 centimeters in length, with females being significantly larger than males. Dorsal coloration ranges from gray to brown or olive-green, with a characteristic light-colored vertebral stripe running down the back. Warts are often surrounded by dark blotches and can show reddish or yellowish tints. The parotoid glands behind the eyes are large, oval, and well-spaced, secreting a milky defense toxin.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Terrarium Setup: Requires a spacious, horizontally oriented terrarium. The minimum dimensions for a pair of adults are 80x45x40 cm. The essential element is a substrate at least 10-15 cm deep to allow burrowing; a mixture of organic topsoil, coconut fiber, and chemical-free soil is recommended, covered with leaf litter and cork bark. Include multiple dry and damp hiding spots. A shallow, wide water bowl is necessary for soaking, but water depth should not exceed the toad's shoulder height to prevent drowning.
Lighting and Heating: Lighting should follow a 12-hour photoperiod. The use of a low-intensity UVB bulb (2-5%) is highly recommended to prevent metabolic bone disease. This species requires cool temperatures: daytime ambient temperature must be kept between 18°C and 22°C (64-72°F), with a dry basking zone not exceeding 25°C (77°F). At night, the temperature should drop to 14-16°C (57-61°F). Avoid using high-wattage heat sources, as they do not tolerate extreme heat.
Humidity and Hydration: Ambient humidity should be kept moderate, between 50% and 65%, with spikes of 70-80% inside a damp hide filled with moist sphagnum moss. Light misting once a day is recommended. Water in the bowl must be changed daily, as toads often defecate in it; use only chlorine-free, conditioned water.
Feeding and Supplementation: A voracious species that will accept almost any moving prey. The diet should include crickets, roaches, earthworms, mealworms, and superworms. Adult toads should be fed two or three times a week, while juveniles can be fed every other day. It is essential to dust prey items with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement once a week to prevent metabolic disorders.
Compatibility: A solitary species that tolerates the presence of similar-sized conspecifics, but must not be housed with smaller species that would be swallowed. Avoid cohabitation with tropical amphibians requiring warm, humid climates, or with reptiles that could injure them.
Health and Common Diseases: The main risks are metabolic bone disease due to calcium/UVB deficiency, intestinal impaction from swallowing large substrate particles (which is why fine or soft soil is recommended), and bacterial skin infections like red leg disease caused by poor hygiene. They are also susceptible to chytridiomycosis. New specimens must undergo quarantine.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Anaxyrus boreas is an anuran amphibian native to the western regions of North America. Its vast geographic range extends from southern Alaska and British Columbia, through the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, down to northern California and the northern part of Baja California in Mexico, reaching as far east as Colorado. It inhabits a remarkable variety of environments, including mountain meadows, damp forests, river valleys, wetlands, and even desert areas near permanent or seasonal water sources, at altitudes ranging from sea level to over 3600 meters.
Origine
Amérique centrale et CaraïbesAmérique du Nord
Profil d'amphibien
- Régime alimentaire
- Carnivore
- These robust amphibians are voracious eaters, consuming a diverse array of terrestrial insects, worms, and sometimes small vertebrates. In captivity, a staple diet of crickets, dubia roaches, and earthworms should be provided. Food should be routinely dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements to maintain proper bone density and health.
- Espérance de vie
- 9-12 years
- Taille adulte
- 13 cm
- Mode de vie/microhabitat
- Terrestrial
- They lead a highly terrestrial and fossorial lifestyle, rarely entering water except to breed. A suitable enclosure must have a deep layer of safe, moisture-retaining substrate such as coconut coir or topsoil to allow for natural burrowing behavior. While they need a shallow water dish to soak in, excessive moisture can lead to skin infections.
- Cycle d'activité
- Crepuscular
- These amphibians are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, avoiding the hot, drying sun of the day. During daylight hours, they remain hidden in burrows, under logs, or buried in the substrate to conserve moisture. Warm, rainy nights encourage the most active foraging and movement.
- Sociabilité
- Solitary
- They are generally slow-moving and prefer walking or making short hops over long leaps. As a defense mechanism, they can inflate their bodies to appear larger and secrete mild toxins from parotoid glands behind their eyes. They are skilled burrowers, using their hind legs to shuffle backwards into loose soil.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding is often explosive and triggered by specific environmental cues like heavy seasonal rains or rising spring temperatures. Males congregate at shallow breeding pools and emit loud calls to attract females. Females lay thousands of eggs in long, gelatinous strings that quickly hatch into dark-colored tadpoles.
- Toxicité
- Toxic
- Like most true toads, they possess prominent parotoid glands behind their eyes that secrete a mild, white defensive toxin when they feel severely threatened. This bufotoxin is distasteful to many predators and can cause irritation to mucous membranes in pets or humans. Therefore, hand-washing is mandatory after handling them to avoid transferring the toxin to the eyes or mouth.
- Stade de vie
- Neotenic
- They begin their lives as small, entirely black tadpoles that often swim together in massive, swarming schools in shallow water. After a rapid period of metamorphosis, immense numbers of tiny toadlets emerge onto the land almost simultaneously. They grow quickly, developing dry, warty skin and a characteristic light stripe down their back as they mature into adults.
- Tolérance aux manipulations
- Tolerant
- Generally docile, they tolerate very brief handling, though they may release fluid from their bladder or excrete mild, foul-tasting toxins from their parotoid glands if stressed. Handling should be kept to a strict minimum with clean, wet hands.
- Brumation
- Requise
- They naturally brumate during the cold winter months, retreating deep underground below the frost line. In captivity, a controlled cooling period is beneficial for their long-term health and is required to stimulate reproduction.
- Mue
- Regular
- They periodically slough off their outer skin layer and pull it into their mouth to eat. They require access to a shallow water dish to soak and absorb water, which aids significantly in the shedding process.
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