The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: Brown, tan, olive, or yellowish-brown base color. Irregular small dark spots. A light vertebral stripe. The parotoid glands are large and oval-shaped. The cranial crests are well-defined and run parallel to each other between the eyes.  

Call: A loud repeated nasally “waaaaah” lasting 2 to 4 seconds. The vocal sac is round. 

Size: A medium-sized toad averaging 4 to 5 inches in length. 

Range and Habitat: This toad occurs through much of the state. It inhabits a variety of habit types including desertscrub, grasslands, montane woodlands, marshes, and agricultural areas. It can be found near streams, ponds, lakes, ditches, rivers, and temporary water sources. It can be found up to about 8,000 feet in elevation. 

Similar Species: The Arizona Toad lacks cranial crests and a vertebral stripe. The Boreal Toad lacks cranial crests. The Great Plains Toad has cranial crests that connect toward the snout and a symmetrical pattern.