Bufo quercicus

Bufo quercicus is a large toad native to North America. It is commonly known as the oak toad, but it is also known as the Fowler's toad, western American toad, or Pacific toad.

DESCRIPTION

• Adults measure between 2 and 4 inches in snout-vent length. The oak toad can be identified by its light mid-dorsal stripe, variable brown and black spots, and proportionally large parotoid glands. One of the most remarkable features of this species is its small adult size relative to other toads.

• The body is typically brown or olive green in color, with dark spots. The underside of the toad is lighter in color, often with a yellowish or cream tint. The toad's skin is bumpy and warty.

• The toad has large, prominent eyes.

• The male can be distinguished from the female by his clear white belly and a slightly distended, loose flap of skin beneath the mouth, which expands into the vocal sac. The female has a dark-spotted belly and lacks a vocal sac.

REPRODUCTION

• Bufo quercicus breeds in the spring and early summer.  The males attract females by calling from elevated perches. Once a female is attracted, the male will lead her to a suitable breeding site, such as a pond or stream. The female will then lay her eggs in the water.

• The eggs hatch within a few days, and the tadpoles emerge. The tadpoles develop rapidly and reach metamorphosis within a few months. The froglets emerge from the water fully formed and independent.

HABITAT

• It is found in a variety of habitats, including sandy pine flatwoods and oak scrub, open pine and pine-oak woods, pine or oak savanna with sandy soils, and maritime forests. 

• Oak toads prefer open-canopied pine flatwoods with grassy ground cover, and they are generally found in moist, grassy areas near pine or oak savannahs with sandy soil. They are also found in vernal pools and freshwater wetlands.