Anaxyrus cognatus
—
Great Plains Toad
The genus Anaxyrus was split from Bufo by Frost et al in 2006. This split is particularly controversial among herpetologists, and many references still use the long-established Bufo.
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/04080732PD_G_Plains_toad.jpg)
Like the Couch's Spadefoot, this is another relatively common toad in southern Arizona, but one which I had not yet seen. This one was a particularly regal slob of a toad, wouldn't you say?
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/13081432PD.jpg)
Here's another regal slob, with much greener blotches. These toads look so very proud.
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/14080440PD.jpg)
The apparent attitude on the faces of these blobby toads never fails to crack me up.
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/16082406PD_toad.jpg)
These toads spend their days (and much of the year) buried in the ground, and they don't typically bother to clean up the evidence before going out. So uncouth!
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/220809099L.jpeg)
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/220809143L.jpeg)
![Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)](../images/herps/standard/220809145L.jpeg)
The toads are gettting closer! The toads are getting closer!
Printed references:
- Behler, J. L., King, F. W. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians
- Brennan, T. C. and Holycross, A. T. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Degenhardt, W. G., Painter, C. W., Price, A. H. 1996. Amphibians & Reptiles of New Mexico
- Elliott, L., Gerhardt, C. and Davidson, C. 2009. The Frogs and Toads of North America
- Stebbins, R. C. 2003. Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition