Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This species is known from the Great Plains and southwestern USA and northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Nuevo León; Frost-Darrel, 2014). Southern Manitoba to southeastern Alberta, south to Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí, Mexico; east to western Minnesota, western Iowa, central Missouri, central Oklahoma, and northern and western Texas; west to central Montana, eastern Wyoming, eastern and south-central Colorado, southeastern California, then north through southern Nevada and Arizona to northern Utah and south to Sonora and northerns and central Sinaloa (see map in Krupa, 1990). It is commonly found up to 1,800m asl, and up to 2,440m asl in Colorado.

This species inhabits deserts, grasslands, semi-desert shrublands, open floodplains, and agricultural areas, typically in stream valleys. It burrows underground when inactive. It breeds in rain pools, flooded areas, and ponds and reservoirs that fluctuate in size. Eggs and larvae develop in shallow water (usually clear).

Its population is widespread. The population trend is unknown but is probably stable to slightly declining. Each female can produce between 120 to 2200 eggs (Ramírez y Santos, pers. comm, 2014).

This species is offered online at about $13 USD in USA websites.

This species is not threatened overall. It uses some cultivated areas successfully, but extensive-intensive farming eliminates or reduces local populations. Breeding sites are typically the result of heavy rains and hence not generally subject to loss via water projects. In fact, this toad often breeds in reservoir edges. Suburban sprawl has eliminated breeding and non-breeding habitats in areas adjacent to growing cities in Colorado (Hammerson, 1999). In Mexico it can be threatened by land use change to urbanization areas (Santos, pers. comm., 2014).

• 4.1 Roads & railroads
• 2.1.4 Scale Unknown/Unrecorded
• 1.2 Commercial & industrial areas
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas

The range of this species includes several protected areas in USA and Mexico. Better information on abundance, trends, and threats is needed.

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

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