Gulf Coast Toad

Description:

This particular toad is somewhat large at 3 ½” in length, not including legs. Very round and apparently well fed on woodlice and other invertebrates. Mottled brown on dorsal surface and light cream colored underneath. Note there is a light colored mid-dorsal line running down the spine, as well as similarly colored streaks running along both sides (though it varies in how pronounced it is). The streaks along the side connect with the mid-dorsal line just behind the tympanic membrane and run along a kind of ridge along the edge of the toad’s broad back, tapering to the rear. Head characteristics include cranial crests (bumpy/hard looking lines that protrude from the top of its head) which are slightly denser in pigmentation than the surrounding skin and pronounced facial structure around the mouth, making the maxilla (upper jaw) appear slightly beaklike. The toad’s upper lips (if you can call them that) themselves actually protrude slightly and are dark and rigid looking, similar to the cranial crests. Just above the dark edge of the mouth is generally a thin light line with little pigmentation before coloration resumes. On many toad species there is also a pronounced lump just to the rear of the tympanic membrane (this is the parotoid gland) – Gulf Coast toads may have them, but they are usually less defined than other species. This is neither a Texas toad (Bufo speciosus) nor a Woodhouse’s toad (Bufo woodhousii). Texas toads do not have mid-dorsal or connecting outer dorsal lines, and their skull is less strongly defined, with a more round curve to the front of the head as seen from above. Texas toads do seem to have more pronounced parotoid glands as well. Woodhouse’s toads are more similar, but there are differences. Some seem to look like hybrids of Gulf Coast and Texas toads. Similar to Texas toads, Woodhouse’s have more pronounced parotoid glands. They also share a stubbier and less pronounced head shape with them (sort of like a bulldog). Like Gulf Coast toads, however, they generally appear to have a light mid-dorsal line, and may even have less pronounced light lines along the edges of their backs. They do not have pronounced lips (they sort of curve down and in to the curve of their profile) and the coloration from their heads is continuous to the mouth. You should note, however, that there are different subspecies of Woodhouse’s toad along a continuum of phenotypic characteristics, with some hybridization not implausible. Texas Toad - http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps... Woodhouse’s Toad - http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps... Gulf Coast Toad - http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps...

Habitat:

Usually near permanent sources of water, in damp, protected soil. May burrow under porch slabs, etc and given the right conditions will burrow together in small numbers. This one made home in a planter near a whisky barrel pond with moist soil.

Notes:

There is always variation among individuals inside a species, but there are certain characteristics to look for, some which rule out certain possibilities for what something could be...