Size
8 – 10 centimeters
(3 – 4 inches)
Diet
Snails, arachnids, and insects
Range
Puerto Rican crested toad historic range
Reintroduced range
Fact
The Puerto Rican crested toad was the first amphibian to be placed on a Species Survival Plan by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Making A Difference
Populations of Puerto Rico’s only native toad began to decline after the introduction of the invasive, predatory cane toad in 1920. It was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1967. Using a hormone treatment developed at the University of Ottawa, zoos and aquariums in the US and Canada have hatched and shipped over 260,000 crested toad tadpoles to Puerto Rico for release into protected ponds that are monitored by wildlife agencies. This is an amazing example of researchers and zoos working in cooperation with habitat conservation to help a species recover.
The Puerto Rican crested toad has striking metallic eyes.
Close-up of the Puerto Rican crested toad’s eye
