A Guide to California's
Reptiles and Amphibians
Sounds of
Houston Toad - Anaxyrus houstonensis
(Sanders, 1953)
(= Bufo houstonensis)
More Pictures of this toad and its habitat can be viewed here.
Advertisement Calls An advertisement call is the most well-known call of a toad. It is produced by a male toad in order to attract females during the breeding season and to warn other rival males of his presence. Toads usually make the calls around bodies of water that are suitable for breeding and egg laying. These calls can be heard during the evening and at night, and sometimes during daylight at the peak of the breeding season. The call of the Houston Toad is a sustained high pitched trill, lasting as long as 11 seconds. |
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 This is a 12 second recording of the advertisement call of a single Houston Toad (shown to the right) recorded at night in Bastrop County, Texas, on the edge of a temporary pool shown below. The call of a Narrow-mouthed toad can be heard at the end of the call. |
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| This is a 26 second recording of the nearly deafening advertisement calls of a group of Houston Toads calling at night from the shores of a small pool in Bastrop County, Texas (shown to the right.) |
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