The long trill of American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) is a common sound on March nights. This native toad can be found across the eastern US in woodlands, grassy fields, and roadsides. During late winter and spring, they mate in shallow, fish-free pools of water. The females then lay thousands of eggs in a pair of long, spiraling threads. If you’re old enough to know what a telephone cord looks like, the egg masses sort of look like that. 🤣 | Southern Piedmont Natural History

As many of you guessed, what you heard in yesterday’s post was the mating call of American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) down in our pond. The male toads call by forcing air from their lungs through their larynx. As it passes through the larynx the air vibrates the vocal chords, creating the sound which is transmitted by the inflated vocal sac. The sound is a high-pitched, musical trill that typically lasts between 8 and 30 seconds. Toads display breeding site fidelity, meaning they often return t

Sound on! Who needs online dating when you could have a toad’s call for mating? This mating call is produced by male toads in order to attract females during the breeding season and to warn other rival males of their presence. Sometimes they can last up to thirty seconds! 🐸 | Shedd Aquarium

American toads are beginning to emerge after spending the winter lying dormant. As the males congregate in wetlands and ponds, they begin calling loudly in the hopes of catching a female's attention. Each male has a slightly different frequency and volume to their call, which sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. #WetlandWednesday 🎥 Filmed with permission at @Fontenelle Forest | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

We're at the inlet today, as dozens of American toads sound the horns for mating season. Watch as this one, and another that shows up, compete for mates by using their vocal sac, that bubble we see on their chin. The primary purpose of the vocal sac is to amplify the male's advertisement call, attracting females from a wider area. So good to hear their summer chorus again! #findyouroutsidevoice #warrenpa #naturelovers #pawilds #americantoad #alleghenynationalforest #alleghenyislandswilderness #a