Anaxyrus Debilis
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The North American green toad (''Anaxyrus debilis'', formerly ''Bufo debilis'') is a
species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
toad Toad (also known as a hoptoad) 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. In popular culture (folk taxonomy ...
found in the southwestern
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in the states of
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and
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. It is also found in northern
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in the states of
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,
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,
Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...
, and
Zacatecas Zacatecas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Zacatecas, 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City, Zacatec ...
. 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 elusive, typically found during or after rainfall in semi-arid and dry habitats. 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 In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...
, 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 (''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