Toad Species in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Toad Species in Canada

Toad is a common name for frogs belonging to the family Bufonidae. The distinction is not firm, but the word toad is generally applied to frogs with relatively short legs and thick bodies, dry, often “warty” skin and reduced webbing between the toes. Five toad species are found in Canada, living in drier habitats than most other frogs. In Canada, other frogs commonly called toads are the Plains and Great Basin spadefoots (family Scaphiopodidae).

For more general information about frogs (including toads) see Frog Species in Canada.

American Toad

Toad Species in Canada

Common Name

Scientific Name

Provinces/Territories

American toad

Anaxyrus americanus

MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI, NL

Canadian toad

Anaxyrus hemiophrys

AB, NWT, SK, MB

Fowler's toad

Anaxyrus fowleri

ON

Great plains toad

Anaxyrus cognatus

AB, SK, MB

Western toad

Anaxyrus boreas

BC, AB, YK, NWT

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