Larval Amphibians - Frogs and Toads

American toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Tadpole length 18-27mm; eyes dorsal; rounded snout
Body and belly dark; tadpoles appear black when small, brownish just prior to metamorphosis
Tail musculature black and may have bright gold or metallic flecks that may extend onto tail; tail fin low, transparent, and rounded at tip
Intestinal coil usually visible; vent medial; tooth rows: 2/3
Eggs: 4000-10,000 laid in long strings on water surface; each string a single layered tubular membrane separated by partitions; deposited in shallow water near shoreline
Habitat: ponds and shallow bodies of water (temporary pools, ditches, shallow portions of streams)

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