A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

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Black Toad - Anaxyrus exsul
Reproduction, Eggs, and Tadpoles

(Myers, 1942)

(= Bufo exsul)


Male and female in amplexus	Male and female in amplexus	Male and female in amplexus

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.)

Several toads in amplexus and solo males	Breeding area overview	Two breeding males

Single breeding male	Tadpoles, Inyo County © Mark Gary	Eggs, Inyo County © Mark Gary

Recently-hatched tadpoles, Inyo County	Tadpoles, Inyo County © 2005 John Stoklosa
Breeding Habitat

Breeding toads in habitat, Inyo County	Breeding habitat at breeding time, Inyo County
Short Videos

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.