Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: TOAD, GREAT PLAINS

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: AMPHIBIA

Order: ANURA

Family: BUFONIDAE

Genus: ANAXYRUS

Species: COGNATUS

Taxonomic Authority: SAY

Taxonomy References: 002 , 011 , 016

Status

NONGAME
GLOBAL RANK G5
STATE RANK SU

Status References: 005

Habitat Summary

"Occur in grassland and on open floodplains. Lay eggs in rain-filled ditches and pools."

Primary Habitat: "Grassland(matrix)"

References: 001 , 003 , 004

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occur in extreme northwest and western counties, and in central Missouri along Missouri river valley *01*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
ANDREW BOONE ADAIR
ATCHISON CASS AUDRAIN
BUCHANAN CLINTON BARRY
CALLAWAY DEKALB BARTON
CARROLL GENTRY BATES
CLAY JOHNSON BENTON
COLE NODAWAY BOLLINGER
COOPER OSAGE BUTLER
HOLT CALDWELL
HOWARD CAMDEN
JACKSON CAPE GIRARDEAU
LAFAYETTE CARTER
MONITEAU CEDAR
PLATTE CHARITON
RAY CHRISTIAN
SALINE CLARK
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOWELL
IRON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
OREGON
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 012 , 015 , 017 , 018 , 019

Distribution by Watersheds

Mo. R. from Iowa Border to Nishnabotna R.
Nishnabotna R.
Mo. R. from Nishnabotna R. to Nodaway R.
Nodaway R.
Mo.R. from Nodaway to Kansas City
Platte R.
One Hundred and Two R.
Northwest Corner of Jackson County
Grand R. from Shoal Creek to MO. R.
Little Chariton R.
South Grand R.
Mo. R. from Kansas City to Little Chariton R.
Mo. R. from Little Chariton R. to Gasconade R.
Lamine R.
Blackwater R.

Comments: "Likely to occur in listed units, based on county occurrence."

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Western
Glaciated Plains: Grand River
Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Big Rivers: Upper Missouri
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Osage Plains

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial/Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Palustrine

Aquatic Associations:

"Palustrine", "No Subclass",

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 013

Habitat Types:

Waterhole
Perennial Grass (Warm season)

References for Habitat Types: 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Prairie
Dry Prairie
Dry-Mesic Prairie
Mesic Prairie
Wet-Mesic Prairie
Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Dry Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Dry-Mesic Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Chert Prairie
Dry-Mesic Chert Prairie
Sandstone/Shale Prairie
Dry Sandstone/Shale Prairie
Dry-Mesic Sandstone/Shale Prairie
Hardpan Prairie

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 001 , 003 , 004 , 006

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Algae; Not Specified

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits: 008

Juvenile Food Habits

Arachnids (spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions, daddy longlegs); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 008

Adult Food Habits

Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Hymenoptera (sawflies, ants, wasps, bees); Not Specified
Terrestrial Insects; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008 , 009 , 010 , 014

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Inland wetlands: waterhole or temporary pool

References for egg niches requirements: 008

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

Water depth: shallow
Inland wetlands: waterhole or temporary pool

References for feeding larvae niche requirements: 008

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Floodplain specified in comments(00220)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Floodplain specified in comments(00220)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Current velocity: no noticable current
Inland wetlands: waterhole or temporary pool
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: seasonal wet depression
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 013

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Floodplain specified in comments(00220)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Floodplain specified in comments(00220)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Floodplain specified in comments(00220)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: seasonal wet depression
Inland wetlands: waterhole or temporary pool
Successional stage: climax grassland
Water depth: shallow

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
017 Eggs hatch in approximately 1 week. *01*
007 Breed from April - September depending on rainfall. In northern states breed May - July *04*. Breeding activity closely associated with precipitation, typically greatest during the first 2 nights after a rainstorm *13*.
008 Probably an opportunistic breeder *03*.
012 Lay eggs in temporary, rain-filled ditches and pools *13*.
018 May lay up to 20,000 eggs *01,03* in OK study, clutch size 1342-45,054; was positively correlated with body size *13*.
030 In KS active from April - September *03*
099 Communal spawning occurs *13*. In MO adults range from 48-89 mm. *01*. In KS adults 50-85 mm. *03*. In general, adults 1.875-4.0" males 47-95 mm, females 60-99 mm *04*. In MO tadpoles metamorphose to toadlets by early July *01*. Larval period in OK 45 days in April, 18 days in June *13*.

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: ground
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Mating system specified in comments(008)
Duration of pair bond: no pair bond formed
Spawning site: standing water
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Parental care of young: no care

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
017 Eggs hatch in approximately 1 week. *01*
007 Breed from April - September depending on rainfall. In northern states breed May - July *04*. Breeding activity closely associated with precipitation, typically greatest during the first 2 nights after a rainstorm *13*.
008 Probably an opportunistic breeder *03*.
012 Lay eggs in temporary, rain-filled ditches and pools *13*.
018 May lay up to 20,000 eggs *01,03* in OK study, clutch size 1342-45,054; was positively correlated with body size *13*.
030 In KS active from April - September *03*
099 Communal spawning occurs *13*. In MO adults range from 48-89 mm. *01*. In KS adults 50-85 mm. *03*. In general, adults 1.875-4.0" males 47-95 mm, females 60-99 mm *04*. In MO tadpoles metamorphose to toadlets by early July *01*. Larval period in OK 45 days in April, 18 days in June *13*.

References for life history: 001 , 003 , 004 , 013

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Grassland - other (specify in comments)
Grassland - develop/maintain fishless ponds
Water - develop/maintain wetlands
Water - develop/maintain fishless ponds
Water - other (specify in comments)
Agricultural - develop and maintain water holes, ponds, potholes, etc.
Grassland - develop and maintain water holes, ponds, potholes, etc.

Beneficial Management References: 008

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Grassland - application of pesticides
Grassland - application of insecticides

Adverse Management References: 008

Comments on Management:
Beneficial to protect native prairies and open floodplains *08*

References for Management Comments: 008

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Johnson, T.R. 2000. The Amphibians And Reptiles Of Missouri, 2nd. Ed. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 400 Pp.
002 Unpb Checklist Of Missouri Amphibians. T.R. Johnson. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102. (573-751-4115).
003 Collins, J.T. 1974. Amphibians And Reptiles In Kansas. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. Ed. Series No. 1. Lawrence, Ks. 283 Pp.
004 Wright, A.H. and A.A. Wright. 1949. Handbook Of Frogs And Toads. Comstock Publ. Assoc., Ithaca, Ny. 1133 Pp.
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Unpb Johnson, T.R. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City Mo 65102. (573-751-4115)
009 Hartman, Fa. 1906. Food Habits Of Kansas Lizards And Batrachians. Trans. Ks Acad. Sci. 20:225-229.
010 Smith, H.M. 1934. The Amphibians Of Kansas. Amer. Midl. Nat. 15(4): 377-528.
011 Collins, J.T. (Ed.). 1990. Standard Common And Current Scientifc Names For North American Amphibians And Reptiles, 3rd Ed. Soc. For The Study Of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herp. Cir. No. 19. 41 Pp.
012 Powell, R., T.R. Johnson and D.D. Smith. 1992. New Records Of Amphibians And Reptiles In Missouri For 1992. Missouri Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 5:6-13
013 Krupa, J.J. 1994. Breeding Biology Of The Great Plains Toad In Oklahoma. J. Herpetol. 28:217-224.
014 Anderson, A.M., D.A. Haukos and J.T. Anderson. 1999. Diet Composition Of Three Anurans From The Playa Wetlands Of Northwest Texas. Copeia 1999(2): 515-520.
015 Unpb Daniel, R. 1998 Collector's Permit Report. Permit Number 10090.Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.573-751-4115.
016 Crother, B.I. (Ed.). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding (6th ed.). Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 37.
017 Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2002. Revised county distribution maps of amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 15:16-38.
018 Daniel, Richard E., Brian S. Edmond and Jeffrey T. Briggler. 2020. New and previously unreported herpetological distribution records for Missouri in 2020. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 33:3-11.
019 Briggler, Jeffrey T. and Richard E. Daniel. 2020. Addendum: previously unreported county records from the Northwest Missouri State University Herpetology Collection. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 33:12-14.