Unfortunately, urban development quickly claimed Houston's population of a namesake species. Other suitable habitat on the coastal prairie was cleared for agriculture. Native vegetation gave way to Bermuda grass and croplands. Watershed alteration drained breeding ponds, and the toads were unable to reproduce and survive long-term drought conditions.
The Houston toad was classified as endangered in 1970. It was also named as one of the most imperiled animals in the United States.
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