At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Sources disagree — IUCN's 2022 global assessment says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Yosemite toad is a high-mountain toad of the Sierra Nevada, where males are strikingly different in colour from females. It is assessed as Endangered.
It breeds in shallow snowmelt pools in alpine meadows.
Range & habitat
High meadows of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Disease
- Habitat change and drought
- Past grazing and pesticides drifting from farmland
Why it matters
A high-elevation toad sensitive to disease and a changing climate, the Yosemite toad is an indicator of the health of Sierra Nevada meadows.
Sources
Sources for Yosemite Toad
- IUCN Red List — look up Yosemite Toad (authoritative status)
- AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unusual about the Yosemite toad's appearance?
Males and females look strikingly different: males are often plain yellow-green, while females and young have bold dark blotches — a marked difference for a toad.
Why is the Yosemite toad Endangered?
Published assessments cite disease, habitat change and drought, and the legacy of grazing and pesticide drift. See the IUCN Red List.