Anaxyrus debilis
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The North American green toad (''Anaxyrus debilis''), formerly in the genus ''
Bufo ''Bufo'' is a genus of true toads in the amphibian family Bufonidae. As traditionally defined, it was a wastebasket genus containing a large number of toads from much of the world, but following taxonomic reviews most of these have been moved t ...
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species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
toad Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...
found in the
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in the states of
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New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
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, Oklahoma and
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, as well as in northern
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in the states of
Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...
, San Luis Potosí, Durango, and
Zacatecas , image_map = Zacatecas in Mexico (location map scheme).svg , map_caption = State of Zacatecas within Mexico , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type ...
. It is commonly called green toad (with many variants).


Description

Green toads are typically bright to pale green in color, with black spotting. They are not large toads; adult males are about in snout–vent length and females .


Habitat and reproduction

Green toads are relatively widespread and at least locally common. They are secretive, however, only readily found during and immediately after periods of rainfall; their habitat is semi-arid and often very dry. Breeding occurs from late March to August, stimulated by summer rains. Males move from drier, terrestrial habitat to aquatic breeding sites where they form choruses. Females are attracted by chorusing males. Breeding aggregations do not usually last long, only a few days.


Subspecies

Two subspecies, originally described as separate species, can be identified, but this distinction is disputed: *Eastern green toad, ''Anaxyrus debilis debilis'' *Western green toad, ''Anaxyrus debilis insidior''


See also

*
European green toad The European green toad (''Bufotes viridis'') is a species of toad found in steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, urban areas and other habitats in mainland Europe, ranging from far eastern France and Denmark to the Balkans and Western Russi ...
(''Bufo viridis''), a species that is only distantly related, but shares the same common name.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2665299 debilis Amphibians of Mexico Amphibians of the United States Fauna of the Southwestern United States Fauna of the Rio Grande valleys Amphibians described in 1854