Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100109
Element CodeAAABB01160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyBufonidae
GenusAnaxyrus
SynonymsBufo terrestris(Bonnaterre, 1789)
Other Common Namessouthern toad (EN)
Concept ReferenceFrost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsThe genus Anaxyrus was split from Bufo by Frost et al. (2006). However, taxonomy within the genus Bufo remains controversial and many references still use the long-established Bufo.
No reports of geographic variation exist in the literature, although extensive geographic variation is evident on examination of specimens. Hybridization with A. americanus along the Fall Line may have strong effects on geographic variation, although data on this have not been published (Crother 2017). See Weatherby (1982) for discussion of introgressive hybridization with A. americanus along the Fall Line; first noted by Blair (1947). Gergus (1993) reported this species from Sabine County, southwestern Louisiana, but this was later reidentified as A. terrestris by Gergus (1996). Fontenot et al. (2011) discussed hybridization with other members of the Anaxyrus americanus group.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-24
Change Date2001-10-15
Edition Date2025-06-24
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsThis species is widespread and abundant in the southeastern U.S. The population is relatively stable but has suffered minor declines due to habitat loss, habitat degradation, and invasive species.
Range Extent CommentsThis species is endemic to the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States. It is found from from southeastern Virginia to the Florida Keys and west to Louisiana (Dodd Jr. 2023). There is a disjunct population in Upper Piedmont and Blue Ridge along the South Carolina-Georgia border (Laerm and Hopkins 1997, Dodd Jr. 2023). Range extent is estimated to be 1,032,142 km² (GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences CommentsRepresented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.
Threat Impact CommentsThis species has declined in abundance due to habitat degradation and invasive species. This species has become uncommon in areas where introduced Rhinella marina has proliferated in southern Florida (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). This species has almost certainly declined where red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) have invaded (Darracq et al. 2022). Dense pine plantations reduce habitat quality and overall abundance (Haggerty et al. 2019). Insecticides, such as carbaryl, can reduce overall fitness and survival, especially in combination with saline waters (Wood and Welch 2015). Contamination of breeding wetlands from heavy metals and nitrates can reduce survival of tadpoles (Dodd Jr. 2023). While this species is tolerant of suburban development, as long as wetland breeding habitat remains, abundance is generally lower.