Sonoran Desert Toad
- Toxic | Hallucinagenic
Lifespan • 5 years.
Diet • Insects, centipedes, spiders, lizards, mice, and other amphibians.
Habitat • Desertscrub, grasslands, oak woodlands, up to about 5,800 feet. Usially tied to water, but may be found many miles from water during summer monsoons.
Additional Info • The species skin toxins are strong enough to kill a dog and reportedly have hallucinogenic qualities.
Breeding usually occurs on one night within 2 or 3 days of a rainfall event of greater than one inch.
Most Sonoran Desert Toads are found at night during the monsoon season, but they may emerge a month or more before the summer rains begin. Outside of the summer activity period, Sonoran Desert toads remain in rodent burrows or other underground retreats.
Red-Spotted Toad
Lifespan • 11 years.
Diet • Arthropods, including ants, beetles, bees, and bugs.
Habitat • Desert streams, springs, cattle tanks, often in rocky areas.
Additional Info • Breeding males will engage in wrestling matches during territorial disputes.
They can tolerate a 40% loss in body water and still be active during dry periods.