Identifying California Toads

1. Does the toad you want to identify have a stripe (dorsal stripe) down the middle of the back? (Sometimes this stripe is faint.)

Distinct Dorsal Stripe

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Faint Dorsal Stripe

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No Dorsal Stripe

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Arizona Toad

The Arizona Toad only occurs in a small area just west of the Colordo River, although it may not occur in California anymore. The lack of a stripe on the back, and/or the large long parotoid glands will differentiate this toad from others that inhabit the same area.

Red-spotted Toad

The Red-spotted Toad occurs in Southern California, mainly in the deserts east of the mountain ranges and north through much of the Mojave Desert. It's small, rounded parotoid glands and lack of a dorsal stripe will distinguish it from its neighbors. It often has many red spots on the body, but sometimes the red is lacking.

Arroyo Toad

The Arroyo Toad occurs along the south and south-central coasts up into the mountains. Usually has a light stripe or patch on the head and eyelids. This toad is listed as endangered because it uses creeks with sandy banks to breed, and this habitat is rapidly disappearing or being destroyed.

Does the toad have enlarged cranial crests on top of the head between the eyes?

4. Toads with a dorsal stripe and cranial crests.

Rocky Mountain Toad

The Rocky Mountain, or Woodhouse's Toad has spread into California in the far southeast, along the Colorado River and the Imperial Valley to near Palm Springs. The cranial crests are prominent, sometimes with a boss between them, and they contact the parotoid glands.

Great Plains Toad

The Great Plains Toad occurs in the far southeast, along the Colorado River and the Imperial Valley to near Palm Springs. The cranial crests form a boss on the snout and separate widely toward the rear of the head. The large blotches with light edges will also help you distinguish it from the Rocky Mountain Toad, which also tends to have a more pronounced stripe down the back.

5. Toads with a dorsal stripe and no cranial crests

Use the range maps to identify the following species.

Black Toad

The Black Toad only occurs only in Deep Springs Valley southeast of Bishop near the Nevada Border. It occurs with the Great Basin Spadefoot, but is entirely different in appearance, being dark black with a stripe down the middle of the back.

Yosemite Toad

Males and females vary in appearance. Yosemite toads only occur at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They do not occur with any other species of toad, although the California Toad occurs nearby. The California toad has a distinct dorsal stripe, while the Yosemite Toad has a more faint stripe.

Western Toad

Western Toads are found throughout much of the state, excluding the high Sierras and the deserts (although they can be found in some desert towns.) There are two subspecies, as indicated by the map below.