Red-spotted Toad
Greg Sievert
The Red-spotted Toad inhabits rocky areas of dry prairies and canyons in southwest Kansas. Like most toads, it is nocturnal. During the day, it hides beneath rocks where the soil is fairly moist. Their range is restricted in Kansas to the Red Hills and the extreme southern High Plains. All observations of these amphibians have been made from May to September in Kansas.
Breeding occurs between late April and early May or after heavy rainfall during spring or summer. The species congregates in small numbers around canyon pools and streams to mate. The female deposits her eggs singly as the male fertilizes them. The eggs adhere to plants, other objects, and sometimes each other to form a small, single-layered mass. This toad eats beetles, ants, and bees, with ants predominating.