Sonoran Desert Toad

Incilius alvarius

Range

Northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States; in the United States, it occurs around the lower Colorado River and Gila River catchments, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and much of southern Arizona. It is considered possibly extirpated from California; in Mexico, it occurs in Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua.

Habitat

Desert and semi-arid habitats, especially around water. It may use rodent burrows and breed in natural or artificial water bodies.

Diet

An active forager that eats invertebrates, lizards, small mammals, and amphibians.

Facts

• Unlike most vertebrates, this toad takes in much of its water through the skin of its abdomen. A specialized area called the seat patch, extending from the middle of the abdomen toward the hind legs, helps it rehydrate quickly from shallow pools or wet surfaces.

Research sources

• English Wikipedia