[8] The female Houston toad can grow to be 52–88 millimetres (2.0–3.5 in) (snout to vent) when mature and are typically larger and bulkier than males.

[9] Although generally brown and speckled, their color can range from black to purplish gray, sometimes with green patches.

[10] The toads typically live 2–3 years and create burrows for protection from the cold in the winter and the hot, dry conditions of the summer.

Since they cannot usually outrun their predators such as snakes, turtles, large birds, raccoons, and other frogs, the toads have developed coloration and rough skin to camouflage themselves.

In addition to protecting the Houston Toad from being eaten, some of these chemicals have proven useful medicines to treat heart and nervous disorders in humans.

The Houston toad secretes serotonin and alkaloids, some of which humans use in order to treat certain neurological and heart diseases.

[9] When the weather is hot in the summer or it is brittle and cold in the winter, toads can bury themselves in and under sand in order to hibernate or estivate for protection from extreme temperatures.

During these months, the male emits a high clear trill by distending a vocal sac on its throat, in hopes of attracting a mate ten minutes before sunset while in their burrows.

The female will proceed to lay several thousand eggs in long single-egg strands that are fertilized externally by the male as they are laid.

[9] The Houston Toad today lives exclusively in pine and oak woodlands and savanna with forbs and bunchgrasses present in open areas.

The Houston toad can be found in a large variety of counties such as sections of Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Lee, Leon, Lavaca, Milam and Robertson.

[15] The Houston toad is generally found in areas with loose, sandy soils greater than 40 in (100 cm) in depth and large rolling uplands.

[15] Though the largest and most immediate threat is habitat loss (especially due to highway expansion, parking lots, and other car-centric infrastructure taking up habitat space), the reduced toad populations are also vulnerable to automobile roadkill, severe air pollution from automobiles, predators, pesticides and drought.

As more ponds are created on the terrain the calling males become dispersed through a larger area making it more difficult to breed with females.

During the 1950s there was a long term drought which decreased the breeding sites which increased mortality rates and created uncontrollable wildfire which lead to devastating land altering affects.

[15] After 2009, the severe drought conditions continued to get worse and occurred throughout the central Texas region, where the Houston toad population resides.

[16] It was determined that they were extirpated from the Houston, Texas area by the 1960s, likely coincident with the severe drought of the 1950s and concurrent development of its forested habitat in that region.

In spring 2008, the Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan was approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

In September 2011, the Bastrop County Complex fire devastated a large part of the Houston toad's habitat.

This led to the fire ant being added into habitat conservation plans and safe harbor agreements.

Measures were put in place in order to control the population of red-imported fire ants throughout the Houston toad distribution range.