Incilius valliceps
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%
The Gulf Coast toad (Incilius valliceps) is a species of toad native to eastern and southeastern Mexico and Central America as far south as Costa Rica. The Gulf Coast toad is a medium-sized toad species, ranging from 2.5 to 10.2 cm (1 to 4 in) in length. Their back varies in color from nearly black, to shades of brown and grey with a distinctive white or yellowish colored stripe down the center, and sometimes lighter colored patches on the sides. Their underside is yellow or cream colored. Their back is covered in small tubercles, while their underside is normally devoid of them.
I. valliceps has the most extensive ridging of any toad in its geographic range. The ridges extend from the nose, to the back of the head, and with a branch that wraps around the back side of the eye. The Gulf Coast toad is found in a wide range of habitats, including open grassland, semi-arid regions, light forest, and even suburban backyards. They are typically found not far from a permanent water source, which they use for breeding in the spring, but they are capable of travelling long distances while foraging for food.
Like most toads, the Gulf Coast toad is an... Wikipedia →
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Costa Rica · 2014
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Mexico · 2026
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Mexico · 2025
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| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pico Bonito National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇧🇿 Belize | |
| 3 | Biotopo Cerro Cahuí | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 4 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Lago de Yojoa | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 6 | Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 7 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 8 | Celaque National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 9 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 12 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Pedro Sula | 🇭🇳 Honduras |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Gulf Coast Toad sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, based on 87 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 13 amphibians we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June and September
In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Gulf Coast Toad in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, against about 10% in May, the lowest month. Those are among Calakmul Biosphere Reserve's wettest months, with about 130 mm of rain a month against 15 mm in February.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Central American Gulf Coast Toad sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Among the best
Of the 12 parks where we can rate Central American Gulf Coast Toad sightings, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve ranks 4th at about 40%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Pico Bonito National Park (Honduras, about 40%), Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (Belize, about 40%) and Biotopo Cerro Cahuí (Guatemala, about 40%). All parks ranked.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Central American Gulf Coast Toad is recorded against all the amphibians logged in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (87 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
