Reptile
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Toad of the Columbia
Habitat
Moist forests, meadows, and stream edges from lowlands to mountain passes
First Observed
1806-04-10
Observed At
Columbia River region, near present-day The Dalles, Oregon
Lewis and Clark described the western toad during their expedition through the Pacific Northwest. This large toad, which can reach 5 inches in length, is found from Alaska to Baja California. Lewis noted its distinctive white dorsal stripe and warty skin, comparing it to eastern toads but noting differences in coloration.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, April 10, 1806: "observed a species of toad common to this region… it is considerably larger than the common toad of the Atlantic states and differs in colouring being of a dark olive green with a light streak running along the center of the back."
Journal References
5 journal entries mention Western Toad
Jan
15
1806
Lewis: January 15, 1806
... large
fallen tree which as well as the pit lye across the toads frequented by
the Elk. these pitts are disguised with the slender boughs of trees and
moss; the ...
May
29
1806
Clark: May 29, 1806
...ter and their action much Slower; they Crawl much
like the toad. they are of a brown Colour with yellowish and yellowish
brown Spots. it is covered with minute sc...
May
29
1806
Lewis: May 29, 1806
...ter and their action much slower; they crawl
much like the toad. they are of brown colour with yellowish and
yellowishbrown spots. it is covered with minute scale...
May
30
1806
Clark: May 30, 1806
...lengthy form of our bullfrogs and that of our
land frog or toad as they are Sometimes called in the United States. like
the latter their bodies are covered with l...
May
30
1806
Lewis: May 30, 1806
...lengthy
form of our bull frog and that of our land frog or toad as they are
sometimes called in the U States. like the latter their bodies are covered
with littl...
