Dwarf American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi)

Dwarf American Toad
in prepared garden bed
(9-5-2020)


I've been moving lots of compost this week, preparing new no-till garden beds for a winter crop of greens.  A piece of corrugated cardboard had blown onto one of the beds, and when I lifted it yesterday, I found this Dwarf American Toad huddled underneath, doing his level best to blend in with the soil around him.  He did a fine job!  I encountered a very similar fellow in the general area a couple of weeks ago -- I wonder if he is the same one or if we have a colony?

I identified him using Herps of Arkansas.  According to HOA,  only two true toads live in Arkansas, the Dwarf American Toad and the Fowler's Toad.  Both occur all over Arkansas, and both hybridize with other true toads. If you want to hear the Dwarf American Toad's call, check it out at HOA.  My speaker was turned up all the way -- I would recommend making sure yours is not before you listen:)

I was puzzled that HOA did not have a separate category for toads; toads are listed under the frogs tab.  A bit of internet reading revealed that toads and frogs are in a single order, Anura ("without tail" in ancient Greek).  The differences between toads and frogs are informal, not taxonomic. In a nutshell, toads are warty frogs.  All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.  If you want to read more, check out Frog Vs Toad at Animalwise.




 

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