THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY

Amphibia    Anura    Bufonidae  

Yosemite Toad
Anaxyrus canorus (Camp, 1916)
AH-naks-EE-rus — kuh-NOR-us

SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
 Multiple studies (e.g., Goebel et al., 2009, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50: 209–225, and Gordon et al., 2017, Zootaxa 4290: 123–139) have found two phylogenetically distinct mitochondrial DNA clades of this species, corresponding to samples from the southern Sierra Nevada range and northern samples from the same range. Goebel et al. (op. cit.) also reported hybrids between A. boreas and A. canorus. See comments under A. boreas; these issues require more research that is expanded to include nuclear DNA. (Mendelson, Joseph R., III, Darrel R. Frost, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, and Maureen A. Donnelly. 2025. Anura – Frogs. Pages 1-9 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)

Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.09.10.10.05.36)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.05 MB

Province/State Distribution:
United States: California

Taxonomic Etymology:
The name combines a classical Greek-derived genus name with a Latin species epithet describing a characteristic trait:
Anaxyrus — Derived from Ancient Greek: anax (ἄναξ) – “lord,” “master,” or “king”; uros (οὐρά) – though less directly relevant here, some suggest a derivation from this meaning “tail,” but this is debated and less likely. However, Anaxyrus is usually interpreted as a compound meaning something like: “King toad” or “lordly toad” The "regal" tone likely reflects the toad’s robust and stately appearance. It may also be a nod to its representative or common status among North American toads.
canorus — From Latin: canorus – “melodious,” “tuneful,” or “musical”; Derived from canere, meaning “to sing” This refers to the distinctive, musical call of the species, especially during the breeding season.

First instance(s) of published English names:
Yosemite Toad (: Grinnell, J. and T. I. Storer. 1924. University of California Press, Berkeley. pp.); Yosemite Park Toad (: Storer, Tracy I. 1925. A synopsis of the amphibia of California. University of California Publications in Zoology (27):1-342); Yosemite Park Toad (Bufo canorus: Wright, Anna Allen, and Alex Hazen Wright. 1933. Handbook of frogs and toads. The frogs and toads of the United States and Canada Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, NY. xi+231pp.); Yosemite Toad (Bufo canorus: Wright, Anna Allen, and Alex Hazen Wright. 1933. Handbook of frogs and toads. The frogs and toads of the United States and Canada Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, NY. xi+231pp.); Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus: Frost, Darrel R., Roy W. McDiarmid, Joseph R. Mendelson III, and David M. Green. 2012. Anura - Frogs. Pages 11-22 in Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 39. pp.);

Taxon Links:

  
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
  
Amphibian Species of the World
  
NatureServe
  
iNaturalist
  
GenBank
  
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Selected References:
1916 Camp, Charles L. Description of Bufo canorus, a new toad from the Yosemite National park. University of California Publications in Zoology 17:59-62
1973 Karlstrom, E. L. Bufo canorus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (132):1–2
2004 Pauly, Gregory B., David M. Hillis, and David C. Cannatella. The history of a Nearctic colonization: Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of the Nearctic toads (Bufo). Evolution 58:2517-2535
2005 Lannoo, Michael (Editor) Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University fo California Press, Berkeley. 1115pp.
2008 Pauly, Gregory B. Phylogenetic systematics, historical biogeography, and the evolution of vocalizations in Nearctic toads (Bufo). Dissertation. University of Texas, Austin. 165pp.
2013 Dodd, C. Kenneth. Frogs of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 982pp.
2016 Peralta-Garcia, Anny, Dean H. Leavitt, Bradford D. Hollingsworth, and Tod W. Reeder. The phylogenetic position of the Little Mexican Toad, Anaxyrus kelloggi, using molecular data. Journal of Herpetology 50(3):471-475
2017 Gordon, Michelle R., Eric T. Simandle, and C. Richard Tracy A diamond in the rough desert shrublands of the Great Basin in the Western United States: A new cryptic toad species (Amphibia: Bufonidae: Bufo (Anaxyrus)) discovered in Northern Nevada. Zootaxa 4290(1):123–139
2023 Dodd, C. Kenneth. Frogs of the United States and Canada. Second Edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 1032pp.

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY — Accessed: Friday 05 December 2025 15:53 CT