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Herpetofauna - One Life's List
American Toad Champaign Co., Illinois. April 8, 1991 |
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On
any given rainy night in spring and early summer, the blacktop surfaces of
county roads around Champaign are good places to see hundreds of American
Toads, as they hop around tending to the business of procreation. Despite
intensive agricultural practices that have eliminated many species of
amphibians and reptiles, the toad remains, breeding in roadside ditches and
surviving around the margins of fields. Even if you don't see one on the
road, their musical trill from nearby water is pleasant to hear.
On the edges of town, they can sometimes be found at night under the light of a street lamp, patiently waiting for insects to stray too close. They can also be found in town, although in smaller numbers; I was overjoyed to find one in my yard one rainy August night! The two toads pictured were photographed in central Indiana in May 2001. |
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