Amphibian Additions to Liberty Wildlife 

By: Reilly Hammond

Liberty Wildlife Intern

This fall Liberty Wildlife partnered with the Phoenix Herpetological Society to welcome four new amphibians to our education collection: two Sonoran desert toads and two red spotted toads! Amphibians are a crucial part of many ecosystems, as they can indicate the initial effects of climate change and pollution. As an indicator species, they are important education animals as well.

The Sonoran desert toads are Arizona’s largest toad, growing to seven and a half inches or more in length. They have smooth, olive-green to brown colored skin. They have crests on their head, called cranial crests; and have elongated glands on both sides of the back of the head and on the hind legs are called parotoid glands. They are found across southern Arizona, specifically the Sonoran desert scrub, semi-desert grasslands, and woodlands. They are nocturnal creatures and typically remain in rodent burrows underground for most of the year, only leaving during the summer monsoon season when they can be found out at night. They are quite glutinous creatures and eat just about anything that moves and will fit into their mouth. Typically this includes insects, arachnids, lizards, mice, and other amphibians. The species’ skin toxins are strong enough to kill a dog and reportedly have hallucinogenic qualities. The Sonoran desert toad is sometimes referred to as the “Colorado River toad”. Aside from habitat destruction, raccoons are another threat to these toads as they are the only animal recorded to have learned to ingest the toad with their poison.

The red-spotted toads are a pale gray to tan with small red or yellowish-red warts. They can be up to 3 inches in length and they have a flattened head and body and round parotoid glands at the back of their head. Typically the red spotted toads are found at or near temporary or permanent water sources, often in rocky canyons or streams, in southwestern Arizona into grasslands, Great Basin Desert, oak woodlands, and coniferous forests of central and southeastern Arizona, and the Colorado Plateau of northern Arizona.  They spend the day in rock crevices or under rocks, and at dusk they walk to a nearby water source to look for food and a mate. Their diet includes small arthropods, such as ants, bugs, and bees. Red-spotted toads can tolerate a 40% loss in body water and still be active during dry periods. Interestingly enough, the red-spotted toads in Arizona have hybridized with the Sonoran green toad, and the larger Woodhouse’s and Great Plains toads.

Amphibians are very special creatures as they have skin that is permeable which means that things that they come in contact with; chemicals, air, or even our skin can go through their permeable layer of skin and enter their blood system.  If you come in contact with a toad or frog, the best thing to do for both you and the animal is to not touch them. At our facility, we use medical grade gloves, so if you find an injured amphibian we advise using medical gloves to contain the animal and then bringing it to a licensed rehabber.

We are very appreciative of this collaboration with Phoenix Herpetological Society as it allows us to educate the public about the most common toads in Arizona. Thank you to the Phoenix Herpetological Society for our new education additions, we are beyond thrilled!

There is a naming contest to name these wonderful creatures within our interactive room so make sure to visit the Liberty Wildlife campus make your suggestions soon!