| Species ID | 020220 |
| Name | Gulf Coast toad |
| Other Common Names | |
| Category | 02 Amphibians |
| Phylum | |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Family | Bufonidae |
| Genus | Bufo |
| Species | valliceps |
| Subspecies | |
| References | 3 |
3* Subspecific status has been conferred on several geographical segments of B. valliceps, but Porter (1970:94.2) concluded that recognition of subspecies was unjustified. The literature on B. valliceps was reviewed by Porter (1970), who erroneously included specimens of B. leutkenii from southeastern Guatemala, El Salvador, western Nicaragua, and northwestern Costa Rica in his account (Savage, in D. R. Frost, 1985:52). Mendelson (1993) analyzed the morphology of populations from throughout Mexico and Central America and suggested that several species may be combined under the name B. valliceps. In 1994 Mendelson described B. campbelli, which is said to occur sympatrically with B. valliceps in southern Belize and in the vicinity of Chinaj , Guatemala.
| DISTRICT | References |
| Toledo, Belize | 1 |
| Cayo, Belize | 2 |
| Corozal, Belize | 2 |
| Orange Walk, Belize | 2 |
| Stann Creek, Belize | 2 |
| Belize, Belize | 2 |
| Administrative Unit | Occurrence | Abundance | Temporal | References |
| Chiquibul National Park | Photographed | Unknown, insufficient data | March | 4 |
| Private land, see comments | Dry season (Jan-May) | 1 | ||
| Government land | 2 | |||
| Shipstern Nature Reserve | 2 | |||
| Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Rio Bravo Conservation Area | 2 | |||
| Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve | 2 | |||
| Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Private) | 2 | |||
| Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve | 2 | |||
| Slate Creek Preserve | 2 | |||
| Manatee Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Caracol Archaeological Reserve | 2 | |||
| Chiquibul Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 2 | |||
| Bladen Nature Reserve | 2 | |||
| Columbia River Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Deep River Forest Reserve | 2 |
| Hydrologic Unit Distribution | References |
| Macal River | 4 |
| ELEVATION Association | References |
| 601-800 m | 4 |
| QUAD Distribution | References |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 4 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 88 10' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 2 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 2 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 2 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 2 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 00' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 2 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 2 |
| 18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15' | 2 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 2 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 2 |
| 16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 2 |
| 16 15' to 16 30'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 2 |
| 16 15' to 16 30'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 2 |
| 18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 1 |
| 15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15' | 2 |
| 18 00' to 18 15'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 2 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 2 |
| Holdridge Life Zone Distribution | References |
| Subtropical moist | 4 |
Comments on Distribution
4* Miller, C.M. (1992). Natural history voucher photograph collection. Unnamed tributary, Rubber Camp, Chiquibul National Park.
| Pictures | |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
Life History Narrative
This abundant toad occurs in virtually all habitats within the Yucatan Peninsula, although it seems most common in open, nonforested situations. It commonly occurs in disturbed areas and in association with human habitations, but it is also frequently encountered at night of the floor of primary forest. W. E. Neill and Grubb (1971) reported that toads in central Texas, although predominantly terrestrial, were adept at climbing, and some individuals habitually used tree hollows 3 to 5 m above the ground as daytime retreats. Gulf Coast toads are nocturnal and feed largely on insects. Despite their presumably noxious skin secretions, Bufo valliceps are common items in the diet of many snakes (e.g., Drymobius margaritiferus, Xenodon rabdocephalus). At Tikal, Guatemala, this species is preyed upon by the Great Black Hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Gerhardt et al. 1992:350). Reproduction may occur throughout the summer but tends to coincide with the first heavy rains at the onset of the rainy season; however, Barbour and Cole (1906:154) reported breeding in February at Chich‚n Itz , Yucatan. As is the case for many species of toads, reproduction in B. valliceps is "explosive" (Wells, 1977) in the sense that reproductive activity may be intense but restricted to one or a few nights. Large choruses of calling males establish themselves at the edges of temporary bodies of water. Amplexus is axillary, and males will indiscriminately clasp almost any moving object. Homosexual pairings are thus common. Eggs are released in long strings into the water, where they hatch and the tadpoles complete their development. J. C. Lee and Salzburg (1989) found evidence of a large-male mating advantage in B. valliceps at Chich‚n Itz that they attributed to female choice. Wagner and Sullivan (1992) studied populations of this species in south-central Texas and concluded that the potential for sexual selection driven by female choice was high.
Life History References
3
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
1 Matola, S., 1990. The Dolores Expedition, January 27 - February 3, 1990. Unpublished report. 2 Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize. Report to National Protected Areas Management Project. 3 Lee, Julian C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan Peninsula. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York. 4 Miller, C.M. 1992. Natural history voucher photograph collection.