Facts about Colorado River Toads
- 06
Colorado River toads possess parotoid glands behind their eyes that produce toxins as their primary defense mechanism, with concentrations varying seasonally based on environmental stress.
- 05
During their active season, Colorado River toads secrete a milky substance through their skin glands that serves as a defense mechanism against predators and pathogens in the harsh Sonoran Desert environment.
- 04
Alvarius toads survive extreme desert conditions by remaining dormant underground for up to ten months annually, emerging only during rare rainfall events.
- 03
Incitatotoxicus alvarius, the scientific name for Colorado River toads, inhabits the Sonoran Desert region spanning Arizona, California, and Mexico where it breeds in ephemeral desert pools.
- 02
The Colorado River toad can reach up to 7.5 inches in length and weigh nearly 1 pound, making it the largest toad species native to the United States.
- 01
Secretions from Colorado River toads contain 5-MeO-DMT, a powerful psychoactive compound that reaches peak concentration during the toad's breeding season from April through June.