The Amargosa toad (Anaxyrus nelsoni) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It was at one time considered to be a subspecies of the western toad.[3] It is threatened by habitat loss and is classified by the IUCN as being critically endangered.[1]
| Amargosa toad | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Anaxyrus |
| Species: | A. nelsoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Anaxyrus nelsoni (Stejneger, 1893)
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| Synonyms | |
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Etymology
editThe specific name nelsoni honors Edward William Nelson, an American naturalist and ethnologist.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Amargosa toad is endemic to the Oasis Valley in the Amargosa Desert in Nye County, Nevada, United States.[1][3] Its natural habitat is along a 10 miles (16 km) stretch of the Amargosa River in the Oasis Valley between Springdale and Beatty, in tributary springs and in nearby isolated springs. The riverside growth consists of cottonwoods, sedges and cattails and breeding takes place in the springs where there is often little aquatic vegetation.[1]
Status
editThe International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the status of the Amargosa toad as being critically endangered. Factors that adversely affect it include variable amounts of rainfall, the increased use of off-road vehicles, the trampling of grazing animals, dredging operations for flood control and commercial development. Another threat is the introduction of non-native species that prey on it including catfish, crayfish and bullfrogs. The population of the toads is believed to be in decline.[1]
Effective steps are being taken by local citizens, ranchers, and farmers to preserve and restore the Amargosa toad's population in the area, in part to avoid federal intervention through the Endangered Species Act.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2022). "Anaxyrus nelsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T3181A118973099. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T3181A118973099.en.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Anaxyrus nelsoni (Stejneger, 1893)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
- ^ NPR: "All Hopped Up: Town Unites For Toad Revival", NPR. Accessed 11.10.2010
External links
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Media related to Anaxyrus nelsoni at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Anaxyrus nelsoni at Wikispecies- Nevada Fish & Wildlife Office: Amargosa Toad - website of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Nevada Office
