Amphibians of the Prairies

The three prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have 19 amphibian species. While the arid southern grasslands are home to the Plains Spadefoot and the Great Plains toads, the other species can also be found in the northern forests.

Unlike the specialist habitats in British Columbia, most of these amphibians are found in other provinces. Some of them, however, are limited in their prairie range to one province. Manitoba is the only Canadian province with Cope's Gray treefrog.

• Mudpuppy - Manitoba only
• Blue-spotted salamander - Manitoba only
• Northern long-toed salamander - Alberta only 
• Gray tiger salamander 
• Barred tiger salamander 
• Plains spadefoot toad  
• American toad - Manitoba  
• Boreal toad - Alberta only 
• Great plains toad 
• Canadian toad 
• Cope's gray treefrog - Manitoba only 
• Gray treefrog - Manitoba 
• Spring peeper - Manitoba 
• Boreal chorus frog 
• Green frog - Manitoba 
• Northern leopard frog 
• Mink frog - Manitoba 
• Wood frog 
• Columbia spotted frog - Alberta 

Barred tiger salamander photo courtesy CARCNET

Creature Feature

Plains Spadefoot Toad Spea bombifrons

The self-dug burrows of these toads range from a few centimetres to several metres, and the entrance always remains open. Adhesive material is occasionally found at the entrance, which is though to cement the loose soil in place and prevent collapse.

Generally gray, brown or greenish, these toads may also have light coloured stripes.

-have a bony, elevated hump between the eyes called a 'boss'

-their small warts are tipped with orange or yellow

-skin secretions smell somewhat like garlic

-matinc call sounds similar to the quack of a duck

-found on the disappearing short-grass prairie

-vertical pupils like a cat indicate a nocturnal lifestyle

-lay their eggs in any available water, even cattle tanks

-tadpoles will eat anything, even each other, which is an adaptation to quick development in arid areas