On 18 April 2014, six days after I observed Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) mating in a couple of vernal pools located near the terminus of the Hike-Bike Trail at Huntley Meadows Park, I spotted thousands of tadpoles swimming in the larger pool.
Why do toads lay thousands of eggs? The answer is, in a word, survival. According to Kevin Munroe, former Park Manager at HMP, tadpoles have a 1-in-10 chance of surviving to become adult toads, although their chances of survival may be greater in fish-less water bodies such as vernal pools.
The preceding still “photoad” is an outtake from one of eight video clips featured in the movie “toadpoles,” shown below.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 5 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of toads commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus); and Fowler’s Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri).
Related Resources:
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 1)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 2)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 3)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 4)
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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