Totally Toads
All photos by Betsy Cross
Totally Toads
“It's much prettier here than down in that well! You could stay here for your whole lifetime!” said the Little Toad. —The Toad, a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by Jean Hersholt
Betsy Cross with Lee Ann Linam
Most of my life I’ve called these gentle amphibians “frogs,” and maybe you have too. Or you might have even referred to them as toad-frogs, which I have also done. But these little guys are actually true toads, more specifically Gulf Coast Toads (Incilius valliceps), and I’ve noticed a lot of them in my yard this summer.
June 3, I snapped the cell phone shot below in low light, right after the sun dropped behind my neighbor’s house.
In addition to the three toads seen here emerging from under my deck, four others were just a few hops ahead of them.
I couldn’t recall having ever seen so many toads at one time.
What triggered them to leave their burrows and suddenly appear out of nowhere, together and all at once?
Maybe it was a drop in the temperature…the encroaching twilight…or the amped up whirring and buzzing of cicadas. After all, “the gulf coast toad is an opportunistic carnivore [that] will eat almost any small arthropod it is able to overpower and swallow.” —Wikipedia
Whatever their motivation, they were all literally coming out of the woodwork to join the other energies of the night.
My master naturalist curiosities were piqued. I placed the toads on my summer watch list. Evenings and mornings, I began taking photos and noting their patterns and behaviors. After a few weeks, I reached out to our resident amphibian expert, wildlife biologist Lee Ann Linam, with some questions. Here are highlights of our dialog about gulf coast toads (my questions, followed by Lee Ann’s responses):
What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?
"Toad" is simply a common name given to some anurans (anurans are the frogs and toads). In general, the term "toad" is given to species that have some adaptations for surviving in more arid environments, even in the absence of permanent water. Like the gulf coast toad, these species usually burrow for much of the year and have rapid reproductive cycles that allow them to breed when intermittent rainfall events create temporary wetlands. Texas has about 42 species of anurans, of which 16 have the common name "toad." These include the narrowmouth toads, the spadefoot toads, and the "true toads." The true toads are those species characterized by a rough dry skin and by the presence of warts that produce some of the toxic compounds (called bufo-toxins) in their skin. The gulf coast toad is one of 10 species of true toads found in the state and is the most widely distributed in the state.
Can you tell me about their life cycle?
Yes, the females are larger because they need to carry up to 20,000 eggs! Males visit breeding sites, which can be ponds, streams, puddles, and ditches (they often use temporary water bodies formed after a rain) between March and September, where they will call to attract females. If a female approaches, the male will grasp her from behind in a position called "amplexus," allowing him to release sperm into the shallow water as she releases eggs into the water. Tadpoles hatch 1-2 days after deposition and take approximately 20-30 days to metamorphose. Juveniles live in habitats similar to that of adults but may remain near their natal ponds for some time before they disperse. — https://cmschalk.weebly.com/gulf-coast-toad.html
Gulf coast toads can live up to 10 years, but in the wild, they may more commonly live only 3-5 years.
Tadpoles in the shallows of the creek at Jacob’s Well.
Toadlet or frog? This tiny anuran is about a quarter of an inch long. Size-wise, it might be comparable to the gulf coast toadlet, but its other features—the long strong legs and shape of the snout—give it away as a cricket frog. Interestingly, cricket frogs also have small warts on their skin.
What is the gulf coast toad’s place in our ecosystem?
Gulf coast toads are an adaptable species, able to exist alongside human habitations. In these niches, they feed on insects, thus providing a balance in those food webs. They also provide food for vertebrates. Although mammals will usually avoid eating toads because of the presence of toxic compounds called bufotoxins in their skin—think of a dog foaming at the mouth when they pick up a toad—birds and reptiles readily feed on adults, and fish and predaceous aquatic invertebrates will feed on the tadpoles and eggs. In fact, toads make up the greater part of the diet of hog-nosed snakes.
If I don’t have any nearby water or ponds, how do they find their way into my yard? Why are they here?
Toads have strategies for being able to survive away from water and may move overland as much as a mile between suitable habitat. As noted before, toads usually use temporary water bodies to breed, as this gives their tadpoles a better chance of survival versus in permanent water bodies, where predators such as fish and dragonfly larvae may be well-established.
In your yard they will seek out moist microclimates, such as flower pots, A/C condensation drips, irrigated areas, or loose dirt under rocks or other structures to avoid drying out in between rain events. But unlike species such as bullfrogs, they do not always need permanent water present.
Every night at dusk until sunrise the next morning, toads use this shallow bird bath as a toad spa.
This oak tree knot-hole on the ground often fills with water and becomes a natural spa for both birds and toads.
July 23: Last evening a polyphemus moth had emerged from its chrysalis somewhere below my deck and was drying out on a tree trunk near the deck floor. It was already dark outside, but I took a quick snapshot of the moth by porch light and then went inside. Within a few minutes, I returned to see how it was progressing, but it was nowhere to be found. The moth had been in a most vulnerable state. It had not appeared to be ready to fly or leave its spot just moments earlier, and now it was gone. Two big toads, who had also been sitting right there on the deck, began to retreat. One looked pretty fat and happy. So…I’m just guessing…dinner? —Betsy
What are their favorite foods?
Adults eat a variety of insects and soft-bodied invertebrates, while the tadpoles are herbivorous, feeding primarily on algae.
How do gulf coast toads compare to other toads, especially to the endangered Houston toad?
As noted earlier, gulf coast toads have proved to be a hardy resilient species, able to persist in modified environments. They are found in a greater variety of soil types than other toads, even in heavy clay soils. In contrast, Houston toads are restricted to the deep, loose sandy soils of the post oak savannah. Gulf coast toads also seem to have been more resilient in the face of invasion by red imported fire ants, which are thought to have contributed to the decline of other toad species in the eastern half of the state.
Learn more about the endangered Houston toad here: Houston Zoo YouTube Video
I have at least one toad in my yard who’s marked a little differently from the others. It’s more “mottled” on its back, sides, and legs but otherwise looks exactly the same as the others (see the photo below in the bird statuette). And there are a couple of smaller toads that have some yellow coloration in the paler areas of their skin.
Although coloring of individuals can vary, gulf coast toads are easily distinguished from the other toad species by the presence of very prominent ridges on the head called "cranial crests,” by the presence of a light-colored stripe down the center of the back, and usually by the presence of broad dark stripes along the sides. Females can also be distinguished from males by the color underneath their throats. Females are white underneath their throats, and males are yellow. The very small recently-metamorphosed toadlets are more difficult to identify, as they are tiny (~1 cm long) and solid dark-colored. However, even these young toadlets will soon display another characteristic of the species, a triangular-shaped gland behind the eye. This gland, the paratoid gland, also produces bufotoxin, and the shape is different on different toad species.
Notice the markings of the toad on the right, which are slightly different from the one on the left. Both have the same cranial crest, however, which is indicative of the gulf coast toad.
On any given night, there will be 1 to 4 toads in this bird bath on the ground. Though it’s hard to see in this photo, the toad on the left has a yellow tone to its skin.
Gulf coast toads are susceptible to many everyday dangers, such as dogs, lawn mowers, power equipment, and places where they can’t get out, such as watering cans and watering receptacles. Sadly, I had one drown in a tub of water, where it was unable to climb out. How can we provide healthy habitat for them in our yards and protect them from these dangers?
1. Allow your property to collect and hold rainwater in ditches and shallow areas—don't allow landscaping to drain all low areas in the yard.
2. Gulf coast toads will sometimes use backyard ornamental ponds, especially if you create shallow areas with vegetation.
3. Place ramps or floating platforms in pools so that toads and other frogs can escape.
4. You can build a "toad house" to create a moist microclimate by chipping a hole in the edge of a flower pot and turning it upside down in an area that collects moisture.
5. Be careful with use of pesticides—don’t allow them to run off into areas that hold moisture.
6. Control fire ants, especially with compounds that are placed directly on the mound, or use boiling water or steam.
7. Just take care when mowing or tilling, especially in moist places.
In case a toad jumps into deep water, it’s important for it to have something such as a stone or a ramp that can help it exit the water when it’s ready.
It can get crowded in this little toad spa at night. I’ve seen 4 toads in it at once, with others waiting for their turn to hop in.
The toads have been on my nature watch list for two months now. The unrelenting heat and drought is surely driving them to congregate around any water source to restore and rehydrate. For this reason, I suspect they are more active and visible than in previous years. What are your thoughts about why I’ve observed so many toads in my yard this summer?
I think that you happen to be providing the right mix of "microclimates" that have resulted in a concentration of toads at your place. I am seeing very few right now at my house, and I am hearing that report from other people. Your place must have protected areas that retain some moisture during the day (such as under your deck), and safe, shallow, accessible water at night (such as your spas). Good job!
I think that you are right that the toads are both emerging to feed and to replenish their moisture. Because amphibians can draw water in through their semi-permeable skin, simply sitting in those pools of water can help them to replenish their body fluids and resist desication. However, unless we get more rainfall, I don't expect toads to use those small water pockets to try to breed. The rainfall events seem to trigger breeding from spring through early fall because the toads' reproductive success is linked to establishment of water bodies that will persist for several weeks.
As we make our rounds providing extra water for birds and other wildlife, all anurans (frogs and toads) are in need of assistance just as much as (and maybe more than) some of the other creatures we tend to think of first. And be aware that they will hop right into any water source and will need a way to exit, such as a ramp, a floating platform, or a stone to crawl up on. Though it seems that there’s no immediate relief in sight, I am still hoping for milder days ahead—for all of our sake!
More Fun Facts About Toads
Maybe you’ve been told that holding or touching a toad could give you warts. Fact Check: This isn’t true. But many species of toads and frogs in the family bufonidae do produce unique chemicals called bufotoxins (mentioned above), which probably evolved to deter predators. In the Smithsonian Magazine article Here’s Why You Should Never Kiss a Toad, Jack Landers reports that bufotoxins have been useful in the treatment of certain cancers, have been used to treat diseases among horses and cattle, and are being studied to determine their use in new drugs for humans and other species.
In fables and fairy tales, why did the witch turn the handsome prince into a toad? From SaveTheFrogs.com: “Toads and frogs have appeared in myths, folklore, proverbs, and fairytales across cultures for many centuries.” Toad symbolism is quite varied among tribes and cultures—from the Olmec tribes’ use of a toad god of rebirth to Chinese legends of the toad as a magician and master of spells to shamanistic traditions and the use of hallucinogens derived from toads and frogs.
In medieval Europe, toads were considered evil creatures. Such views were inherited from Classical Roman and Greek authors, whose writings still influenced popular ideas in the European Middle Ages.
Shakespeare’s play As You Like It alluded to a widely held superstition, which concerned a jewel that was supposed to be found inside the head of the toad and which, worn as a ring or necklace, would protect the wearer from foul play. Perhaps this myth inspired the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale quoted at the top of this article, in which a toad, who bears a precious jewel in his head, is endlessly seeking a higher experience.
Additionally, toads took on the role of evil spirits, who assisted witches in their evil spells…and so on and so on.
What is a toadstool? According to MushroomHuntress.com, toadstools have appeared in folk stories and literature for hundreds of years. The word toadstool originated around the 17th century in England. In the folk tales of that time, toads were considered carriers of disease. In these stories, a toadstool was a mushroom that a toad sat on, and because of the association of toads with disease, it was believed that any mushroom it sat on also became diseased or poisonous.
Fact Check: According to a number of online sources, there is no scientific distinction between toadstools and mushrooms. They cannot be defined by shape, color, or appearance. Not all toadstools are poisonous and not all mushrooms are safe to eat.
Wikipedia states that “a mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. Toadstool generally denotes one poisonous to humans”…however, mushrooms and toadstools have never been precisely defined.
I once opened a water meter cover to discover the cutest little toad perched on a mushroom, a real “toadstool.” I wasn’t fast enough to get the picture, but it is a true story nevertheless. —Betsy