No two the same: the high-climbing evergreen toad

The evergreen toad is a small to medium toad from the Bufonidae family, or true frog family. They can be found out in the wild naturally in Central and South America, specifically in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. They live in humid lowland forests, near rivers and pools, freshwater marshes, gardens, and urban areas. Evergreen toads are also called the green climbing toad due to their semi-arboreal behavior. Instead of burrowing in the ground as most toads do, evergreens are known to climb up trees and vines several feet above ground!

Another interesting characteristic of the evergreen toad is that each individual has a unique camouflage pattern on their backs, with colors ranging from brown, grays, olive, greens, and even yellows. No two patterns are the same! It’s like each toad has a special fingerprint! This camouflage works amazingly to keep these little toads invisible from would be predators as they climb through the forests. Evergreen toads typically eat worms and several types of insects such as spiders, ants, and crickets. Males are roughly two to two and a half inches in length, with the females growing a bit larger from three to three and a half inches in length.

During breeding season, the males will all climb down to freshwater pools or slow-moving streams and start calling at night in attempt to catch the eye of a lucky lady. When the female comes down to the water, the male will climb on her back and grip her with his front legs to hold on. As the female lays her eggs, the male will be right there with her to fertilize them! This process is called amplexus, and it is how many amphibians reproduce. Evergreen toad females lay long gelatinous strands of black eggs that resemble a tiny black pearl necklace. She will attach these pearl strings to submerged vegetation to keep them hydrated. There may be around 200-600 eggs total when she has completed her task! After a few days, the little tadpoles hatch out of the eggs and will hang out in that little pool of water eating vegetation until they are ready for the metamorphosis cycle. During which time, they will metamorphize from an aquatic, herbivorous, gill-breathing tadpole into a terrestrial, insectivorous adult toad! For that to happen, we will first see hindleg development, then emergence of the front legs, tail resorption, and finally lung development. This process can last anywhere from 20-70 days — sometimes faster if their pool of water starts to dry out. Once their tails are completely absorbed, the little baby toads will be ready to hunt down small bugs to eat on land. Before you know it, they’ll be climbing up in the trees with the other climbing toads!

So, on your next trip to Zoo Atlanta, don’t forget to stop by Scaly Slimy Spectacular and visit the evergreen toads in Habitat T7, the triangle habitat near the exit doors, and remember, if you don’t see them on the floor, try looking up into the branches!

(Photo: Sam J.)

 Sam J.
Keeper III, Herpetology