American Toad is a very common large toad in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of North Carolina. Very similar to Fowler's Toad, but the dark patches on Fowler's encircle several spots instead of just one or two. Also, the parotoid glands are separated from the cranial ridge in American, touching in Fowler's. The abdomen and chest are usually spotted in American, unspotted in Fowler's. And American usually has large warts on the tibia, lacking in Fowler's. Southern Toad replaces American Toad in the Coastal Plain.

Durham, NC 7/18/07.

The toad at left has the separated parotoid glands and generally 1-2 large spots in the dark patches, but lacks the large tibia warts and has an unspotted underside. Possibly a hybrid?

Durham, NC 7/18/07.

Durham, NC 7/18/07.

Greensboro, NC 5/15/10

Durham Co., NC 7/18/03.

A fat one!

Durham Co., NC 10/6/2012.

American Toads breed in early spring after a good rain. There was an orgy of breeding activity in this ephemeral puddle, with many pairs in amplexus, males fertilizing the eggs as the females were laying them.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

Singing male. The song of the American Toad is a very long, haunting trill.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

Same male, taking a break.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

Females are much larger than males.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

An unattached male.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

Durham, NC 3/19/2011.

Granville Co., NC 5/20/2012.

A very small nicely colored young toad.

Chatham Co., NC 9/22/2013.

I'm not quite sure which species this interestingly-patterned toad belongs to.

Chatham Co., NC 9/15/07.

Close-up of the eye of the toad at top.

Durham, NC 7/18/07.