Spotting

I am definitely no expert so forgive if I'm coming across ignorant here. Just uploaded another picture that might help. Wish I got one of the belly. The cranial crests here seem to be somewhat indistinct but separate from the paratoid glands. I'm only counting a maximum of 3 warts in some of the black spots. However, it does look like there is more on the two black areas behind the eyes. The reddish warts and less distinct white stripe down the back got me wondering about a hybrid. While not quite as red, seemed a bit more similar to this picture to me:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...

Thanks for sharing this ID information. I obviously have a lot to learn, but am really learning a lot from your observations!

Thanks Scott. This reference says the "Fowler’s toad probably hybridizes with the eastern American toad. Where this happens, intermediate characteristics will occur." I'm wondering if this might be a Dwarf American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi) or some hybrid? He was pretty small, I don't recall hearing sounds like the Fowler at the reference link, and we found him in more northern Missouri.

All things are babies at one time, very likely the reason it was small. Dwarf American toads are generally reddish in color too. Yes, the toads hybridize, but we can only ID something based on the characteristics we can see. I can see 2 of the 3 characteristics that are good for toad ID, and I see nothing that makes me think this is an American toad. The paratoid glands and cranial crests are touching, and some of the dark spots on the back have more than 2-3 warts in them. The two toads also sound very similar, they can be difficult to tell apart that way. So yes, it could be a hybrid, but I see nothing that would make me think this is a hybrid.