Ronald Altig1, Roy W. McDiarmid2, Kimberly A. Nichols3 and Paul C. Ustach4
DIVISION 2: BUFONIDAE
SECTION 1. LTRF: Division 1, Section 1-C - [5] -
| A. | LTRF 2/2 |
| B. | LTRF 2/3 |
SECTION 2. RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Section 1-A - LTRF 2/2 - [5] -
| A. | widespread from southeastern Arizona to central Texas north to western Kansas; temporary pools formed by summer rains (sympatric: none) |
Bufo debilis [A]
| B. | Pima and Pinal cos., south-central Arizona; temporary pools formed by summer rains (sympatric: none) |
Bufo retiformis (not illustrated) [A]
SECTION 3. LENGTH OF LTR P-3 AND COLORATION: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Section 1-B - LTRF 2/3 - (difficult group to identify, geographical choices used extensively) - [4] -
| A. | length of P-3 variable, P-2/P-3 1.1-2.0; dorsum of tail muscle definitely banded uniformly throughout length and pattern persists in preserved specimens |
| B. | P-3 short, P-2/P-3 > 2.2; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens |
| C. | P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens |
SECTION 4. COLORATION, SIZE, MARGINAL PAPILLAE, SNOUT SHAPE, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B and 3-A - length of P-3 variable, P-2/P-3 1.1-2.0; dorsum of tail muscle definitely banded uniformly throughout length, even in preserved specimens - [5] -
| A. | small individuals appear black, but at most stages brassy to golden, non-melanic pigment covers most of body in life, uniformly tan in preservative; dorsum of tail muscle weakly-banded in younger stages; to 35 TL; marginal papillae extend to lateral tips of P-3; snout slopes slightly and then curves sharply downward near tip; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.6; pools of slow, coastal streams in California from Monterey County southward (sympatric: Bufo boreas) |
Bufo californicus (part) [B]
| B. | body appears black, but at least large specimens with iridophores (visible at slight magnification) that form subtle mottling; dorsum of tail muscle with definite white bands that persist in preservative (slight magnification may be needed); to 28 TL; marginal papillae do not extend to lateral tips of P-3; snout curves abruptly downward in lateral view; P-2/P-3 ca. 2.0; summer breeder in temporary pools that form after heavy rains in Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to Mississippi River (sympatric: Bufo valliceps*) |
Bufo quercicus [A]
| C. | body appears black, but at least large specimens have abundant iridophore pigmentation visible at slight magnification; dorsum of tail muscle with definite white bands that persist in preservative (slight magnification may be needed); to 35 TL; marginal papillae extend to lateral tips of P-3; snout forms long slope in lateral view; P-2/P-3 1.1; summer breeder in temporary pools south of a line connecting southwestern Mississippi, south-central Arkansas and Trans Pecos, Texas (sympatric: Bufo quercicus*) |
Bufo valliceps [A]
SECTION 5. COLORATION, SNOUT SHAPE, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B and 3-B - P-3 short, P-2/P-3 > 2.2; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens - [4] -
| A. | all but smallest individuals, which appear mostly black, have extensive iridophore pigmentation that imparts general brassy coloration on body and tail muscle in life; uniformly tan in preservative; snout forms long slope in lateral view; P-2/P-3 > 2.5; temporary rain pools, usually in open areas from southeastern California to panhandle of Texas and most of central Great Plains to southeastern Alberta (sympatric: Bufo speciosus**) |
Bufo cognatus [A]
| B. | small specimens appear black, larger specimens pale tan in preservative, tan to brassy in life; tail muscle crudely bicolored (i.e., may have pale blotches within black portion) or pale with irregular dark stripe, snout curves sharply downward ahead of eyes; P-3 quite short, P-2/P-3 > 2.4; temporary rain pools, usually in open areas in western Oklahoma south and west to south-central New Mexico (sympatric: Bufo cognatus**) |
Bufo speciosus [B]
SECTION 6. RANGE RESTRICTIONS: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B and 3-C - LTRF 2/3; P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens - [5] -
| A. | Hawaii |
Bufo marinus (not illustrated)(part)[A]
| B. | Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges and west |
| C. | Rocky Mountains west to Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges |
| D. | Rocky Mountains east to Mississippi River |
| E. | east of Mississippi River |
SECTION 7. COLORATION, SNOUT SHAPE, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, and 6-B - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; Rocky Mountains west to Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges - [4] -
| A. | small individuals throughout range and large individuals in most parts of range appear black; large specimens may have coppery iridophores posteroventrally and laterally, and in some southern areas, dorsal iridophore pigmentation occurs, uniformly brown to black in preservative; dorsum of tail uniformly dark; snout forms long slope in lateral view; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; many kinds of aquatic habitats from montane pools to stream back-waters to desert streams, widespread from southeastern Alaska to southern California (sympatric: Bufo californicus and B. canorus*) |
Bufo boreas (part) [B]
| B. | small individuals appear black, but at most stages brassy to golden, non-melanic pigment covers most of body in life, uniformly tan in preservative, dorsum of tail muscle weakly-banded in younger stages; snout curves sharply downward ahead of eyes; P-3 moderately long, P-2/P-3 ca. 1.6; pools of slow, coastal streams in California from Monterey County southward (sympatric: Bufo boreas*) |
Bufo californicus (part) [B]
| C. | individuals of all stages sooty black in life, black to brown in preservative, fins semi-opaque; dorsum of tail uniformly dark; snout forms long slope in lateral view; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.6; central Sierra Nevada Range from Eldorado to Fresno cos., California above ca. 2740 m (8300 ft); montane pools and lake margins (sympatric: Bufo boreas) |
Bufo canorus (part) [B]
SECTION 8. RANGE RESTRICTIONS: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, and 6-C - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; Rocky Mountains west to Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges - [5] -
| A. | two spring runs in Deep Springs Valley, Inyo Co., California (sympatric: none) |
Bufo exsul (not illustrated) [C]
| B. | Amargosa River drainage and nearby spring runs in western Nye Co., Nevada; (sympatric: none) |
Bufo nelsoni [C]
| C. | north of latitude of northern Colorado |
| D. | south of latitude of northern Colorado |
SECTION 9. COLORATION, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-C, and 8-C - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; north of latitude of northern Colorado between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges - [4] -
| A. | appears uniformly black but larger specimens sometimes with coppery iridophores ventrally; uniformly black to dark brown in preservative; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; many kinds of aquatic habitats from pools in montane meadows and ditches to desert springs and meadows in most of inter-mountain area in designated area from southeastern Yukon Territory (sympatric: Bufo woodhousii) |
Bufo boreas (part) [B]
| B. | small specimens appear black but scattered golden iridophores visible at slight magnification; larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation on body and dorsum of tail muscle, dense iridophores on dorsum of tail muscle sometimes form a uniform stripe; uniformly dark in preservative; P-2/P-3 > 2.0; usually temporary pools in open areas in disjunct areas in northern Utah, southwestern Idaho, and southeastern Washington (considerable ontogenetic and geographic variation present; sympatric: Bufo boreas) |
Bufo woodhousii (part) [B]
SECTION 10. COLORATION, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-C, and 8-D - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; south of northern Colorado between Sierra Nevada- Cascade ranges and Rocky Mountains - [3, in sympatry] -
| A. | large specimens appear uniformly brassy in life or uniformly tan in preservative; tail muscle with small, irregular, low- contrast dark markings; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; temporary pools formed by seasonal rains in southern half of Arizona and adjacent California and New Mexico (sympatric: Bufo punctatus** and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo alvarius [B]
| B. | small and large individuals are black, large specimens may have coppery iridophores posteroventrally and laterally; fins usually clear with filiform melanophores in larger individuals; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; many kinds of aquatic habitats from montane pools to desert streams and shallow areas of lakes in central Utah, western Colorado, southern Idaho and much of Nevada (sympatric: Bufo woodhousii) |
Bufo boreas (part) [B]
| C. | larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation that imparts brassy coloration, especially laterally; tail muscle blotched to uniform, slightly banded in younger individuals; P- 2/P-3 ca. 1.4; slow parts of lotic systems, remnant stream pools, and temporary pools in several disjunct areas from southern Nevada and adjacent Utah southeasterly to southwestern New Mexico (sympatric: Bufo punctatus* and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo microscaphus [B]
| D. | typically appears uniformly black to pale brown, but significant variations are known from southern Nevada and Arizona; tail musculature bicolored or irregularly blotched with black and white; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; temporary pools and remnant stream pools, widespread from southeastern California to Rocky Mountains south of central Utah (sympatric: Bufo alvarius**, B. microscaphus*, and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo punctatus (part) [A]
| E. | small specimens appear black but scattered golden iridophores visible at slight magnification; larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation on body and dorsum of tail muscle; P-2/P-3 > 2.0; usually temporary pools in open areas, widespread from southeastern California to Rocky Mountains (considerable ontogenetic and geographic variation present; sympatric: Bufo alvarius**, B. boreas, B. microscaphus*, and B. punctatus*) |
Bufo woodhousii (part) [A]
SECTION 11. RANGE RESTRICTIONS: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, and 6-D - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; Rocky Mountains east to Mississippi River - [5] -
| A. | southern Texas (south of latitude of Corpus Christi) |
| B. | north of latitude of northern Iowa |
| C. | north of southern Texas and south of latitude of northern Iowa (see previous two choices) |
SECTION 12. COLORATION, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-D, and 11-A - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; extreme southern Texas - [4] -
| A. | entirely black dorsally; tail muscle unicolored dark or with small area of white ventrally; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; almost any lentic and slow-flowing lotic sites in extreme southern Texas (sympatric: Bufo punctatus*, B. valliceps, and B. woodhousii) |
Bufo marinus (not illustrated) (part) [A]
| B. | small specimens appear black, older specimens sometimes with considerable evenly distributed iridophore pigment visible at slight magnification; tail muscle usually entirely black, sometimes with small white ventral area; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; temporary pools and remnant stream pools southwestern Texas (sympatric: Bufo marinus*, B. valliceps, and B. woodhousii) |
Bufo punctatus (part) [B]
| C. | small specimens appear black but scattered golden iridophores visible at slight magnification; larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation on body and dorsum of tail muscle, dense iridophores on dorsum of tail muscle sometimes forming uniform stripe; P-2/P-3 > 2.0; temporary pools and ditches in open areas in extreme southern Texas (considerable ontogenetic and geographic variation present; sympatric: Bufo marinus*, B. punctatus*, and B. valliceps) |
Bufo woodhousii (part) [B]
SECTION 13. COLORATION, SNOUT SHAPE, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-D, and 11-B - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; north of latitude of northern Iowa between Rocky Mountains and Mississippi River - [3] -
| A. | appears black but abundant golden iridophores visible at slight magnification, concentration of iridophores along top of tail muscle; lower white part of bicolored tail muscle ca. 25% of basal muscle height; snout moderate, ca. 1.5 eye diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; shallow, temporary pools and shallow parts of permanent sites in western Iowa and Minnesota (sympatric: Bufo hemiophrys** and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo americanus (part) [B]
| B. | small and large individuals are black, large specimens may have coppery iridophores posteroventrally and laterally; tail muscle entirely black; snout long, ca. 2-3 diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; montane pools western Wyoming and Montana to central Alberta (sympatric: Bufo woodhousii) |
Bufo boreas (part) [B]
| C. | entirely black dorsally without iridophores; tail muscle blotched to crudely bicolored, boundary between dark and white areas irregular and diffuse; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; snout moderate, about 1.5 eye diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; summer breeder usually in temporary pools or slow-flowing sites in open areas of eastern Minnesota and adjacent North and South Dakota northwestward to northern Alberta (sympatric: Bufo americanus**, B. boreas, and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo hemiophrys [C]
| D. | small specimens appear black but scattered golden iridophores visible at slight magnification; larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation on body and dorsum of tail muscle; lower white part of crudely bicolored tail ca. 25% of basal muscle height; P-2/P-3 > 2.0; snout moderate, about 2 eye diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; usually temporary pools in open areas, widespread in central Great Plains in North and South Dakota and adjacent Montana and Wyoming (considerable ontogenetic and geographic variation present; sympatric: Bufo americanus* and B. hemiophrys**) |
Bufo woodhousii (part) [B]
SECTION 14. COLORATION, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-D, and 11-C - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; north of southern Texas and south of northern Iowa between Rocky Mountains and Mississippi River - [3 if alive, 2 if preserved] -
| A. | appears black but abundant golden iridophores visible at slight magnification, concentration of iridophores along top of tail muscle; tail muscle bicolored; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; temporary pools in eastern Great Plains from central Manitoba to northeastern Texas (sympatric: Bufo fowleri**, B. punctatus, and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo americanus (part) [B]
| B. | small and large individuals are black, large specimens may have coppery iridophores posteroventrally and laterally; fins usually clear with filiform melanophores in larger individuals; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; montane pools in central Colorado and adjacent Wyoming (sympatric: Bufo hemiophrys and B. woodhousii) |
Bufo boreas (part) [B]
| C. | no published data - entirely black dorsally without iridophores, few scattered iridophores laterally; white part of bicolored tail muscle very narrow; P-2/P-3 probably ca. 1.3 as in B. americanus; temporary and permanent pools and ponds, often in forested areas, in small area in east-central Texas (sympatric: Bufo fowleri** and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo houstonensis [C]
| D. | small specimens appear black, large specimens with abundant iridophores that impart a mottled or frosted appearance; lower white part of bicolored tail ca. 50% of basal muscle height; P- 2/P-3 ca. 1.6; temporary pools in eastern Texas north to southeastern Iowa (sympatric: Bufo americanus**, B. houstonensis, and B. woodhousii**) |
Bufo fowleri (part) [B]
| E. | small specimens appear black, older specimens sometimes with considerable iridophore pigment distributed evenly; tail muscle usually entirely black, sometimes with small white ventral area, tail muscle diffusely blotched in some areas; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; temporary pools and remnant stream pools in southeastern Kansas south to Mexican border and west to Rocky Mountains (sympatric: Bufo americanus* and B. woodhousii*) |
Bufo punctatus (part) [B]
| F. | small specimens appear black but scattered golden iridophores visible at slight magnification; larger specimens with considerable iridophore pigmentation on body and dorsum of tail muscle, dense iridophores on dorsum of tail muscle sometimes forms a uniform stripe; lower white part of bicolored tail with irregular border and forms ca. 25% or less of basal muscle height; P-2/P-3 > 2.0; usually shallow, temporary pools in open areas throughout most of Great Plains except in northeastern sector (considerable ontogenetic and geographic variation present; sympatric: Bufo americanus**, B. fowleri, B. houstonensis, and B. punctatus*) |
Bufo woodhousii (part) [B]
SECTION 15. RANGE RESTRICTIONS: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, and 6-E - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; east of Mississippi River - [5] -
| A. | southern two-thirds of Florida peninsula |
| B. | north of latitude of southern West Virginia |
| C. | north of central Florida and south of latitude of southern West Virginia (see previous two choices) |
SECTION 16. COLORATION, TOOTH ROW CONFIGURATIONS, AND SPIRACLE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-E, and 15-A - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; southern two-thirds of Florida peninsula east of Mississippi River - [5] -
| A. | entirely black dorsally; tail muscle unicolored dark or with small area of white ventrally; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap > 7.0; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.0; spiracle below longitudinal axis; exotic in almost any lentic and slow-flowing lotic site in spring and summer (sympatric: Bufo quercicus and B. terrestris*) |
Bufo marinus (not illustrated)(part) [A]
| B. | body dorsum uniformly dark with golden lines (in life) extending from beneath eye diagonally backwards toward midline; lower white portion of bicolored tail 20-25% of basal muscle height; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap > 5.0; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; spiracle on or near longitudinal body axis; late spring to summer breeder usually in temporary sites, but also permanent lentic sites or slow areas of lotic sites (sympatric: Bufo marinus* and B. quercicus) |
Bufo terrestris (part) [B]
SECTION 17. COLORATION AND LENGTH OF LTR P-3: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-E, and 15-B - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P- 2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; north of latitude of southern West Virginia east of Mississippi River - [4 if alive, 2 if preserved] -
| A. | appears black but abundant golden iridophores visible at slight magnification, often concentration of iridophores along top of tail muscle; lower white part of bicolored tail ca. 25% of basal muscle height; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; usually shallow, temporary sites in most of designated area (sympatric: Bufo fowleri**) |
Bufo americanus (part) [B]
| B. | coloration variable, small specimens appear black, large specimens with abundant silver to brassy iridophores that impart a frosted or mottled appearance; lower white part of bicolored tail ca. 50% of basal muscle height; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.6; usually shallow, temporary lentic sites in most of designated area (sympatric: Bufo americanus**) |
Bufo fowleri (part) [B]
SECTION 18. COLORATION, SNOUT SHAPE, TOOTH ROW CONFIGURATIONS, LENGTH OF LTR P-3, SPIRACLE, MARGINAL PAPILLAE, AND RANGE: Division 1, Section 1-C; Division 2, Sections 1-B, 3-C, 6-E, and 15-C - LTRF 2/3; P-3 long, P-2/P-3 < 2.0; dorsum of tail muscle uniformly pale or dark, rarely broken with contrasting areas but never banded, even in preserved specimens; north of central Florida and south of latitude of southern West Virginia east of Mississippi River - [4 if alive, 2 if preserved] -
| A. | appears black but abundant golden iridophores visible at slight magnification, often concentration of iridophores along top of tail muscle; lower white part of bicolored tail muscle ca. 25% of basal muscle height; snout moderate, ca. 1.5 eye diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap > 5.0; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; spiracle on longitudinal axis; temporary pools and shallow parts of permanent lentic sites throughout most of designated area above Fall Line (i.e., inland from Coastal Plain), breeds earlier than B. fowleri (sympatric: Bufo fowleri** and B. terrestris*) |
Bufo americanus (part) [B]
| B. | coloration variable, small specimens appear black, large specimens with abundant silver to brassy iridophores that impart a frosted or mottled appearance; lower white part of bicolored tail ca. 50% of basal muscle height; snout blunt, turns quickly in front of eyes; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap > 4.5; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.6; spiracle on longitudinal axis; lentic sites throughout most of designated area except southeastern Coastal Plain and Florida peninsula, breeds later than B. americanus (sympatric: Bufo americanus** and B. terrestris*) |
Bufo fowleri (part) [B]
| C. | body dorsum uniformly dark with golden lines (in life) of iridophores extending diagonally backwards from below eye toward midline (less visible at night); lower white part of bicolored tail ca. 20-25% of basal muscle height; snout long, about 3 eye diameters in distance from front of eye to tip of snout; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap > 5.0; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.3; spiracle below longitudinal axis; usually temporary and but also permanent lentic sites or slow areas of lotic sites in Coastal Plain from Mississippi River to southeastern Virginia (sympatric: Bufo americanus* and B. fowleri*) |
Bufo terrestris (part) [B]