BOREAL TOAD
Boreal Toad hompage
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BOREAL TOAD
(Southern Rocky Mountain
Population)
Species
Description:
In the southern Rocky Mountain population, female boreal toads may reach a
length 4.3 inches, while males seldom exceed 3.7 inches. Both sexes have
warty skin and oval parotoid glands. Although more prominent in females,
both sexes often have a distinctive light mid-dorsal stripe. Unlike other
species in the same genus, the male boreal toad has no vocal sac and,
therefore, has no mating call. In the southern Rocky Mountains adult boreal
toads emerge from hibernacula when snowmelt has cleared an opening from
their burrow and daily temperatures remain above freezing. Breeding may
begin in the lower altitudes in May and in the higher altitudes in July or
early August. Females may skip 1 to 3 years between breeding attempts,
depending on their physical condition. Females deposit up to 16,500 eggs in
2 strings, which are ordinarily laid in shallow 6 inches water. Egg and
tadpole development is temperature dependant; in high, cold locations,
development from hatching to metamorphosis can take 75 days.
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