A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California
Click on a picture for a larger view
Black Toad - Anaxyrus exsul
Reproduction, Eggs, and Tadpoles
(Myers, 1942) (= Bufo exsul)
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| Male and female in amplexus | Male and female in amplexus | Male and female in amplexus |
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| Male and female in amplexus | Male and female in amplexus with solo males attempting to take the female. (Multiple amplexus, or mating balls, where numerous males surround one female can cause the death of the female by drowning.) |
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| Several toads in amplexus and solo males |
Breeding area overview | Two breeding males |
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| Single breeding male | Tadpoles, Inyo County © Mark Gary | Eggs, Inyo County © Mark Gary |
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Recently-hatched tadpoles, Inyo County |
Tadpoles, Inyo County © 2005 John Stoklosa |
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| Breeding Habitat | ||
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| Breeding toads in habitat, Inyo County |
Breeding habitat at breeding time, Inyo County | |
| Short Videos | ||
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| This video shows some of the sounds and activities of Black Toads on the breeding grounds. | A group of male toads thrash around in the water trying to wrestle away a female away from another male. |
Non-stop ultimate toad-fighting action with a gang of toads trying to steal away females from other males, chasing them around the pond. |
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