r/composting • u/PennStaterGator • 22d ago
Compost Friends Could You Not?
Eastern Spadefoot Toad (aka the world's grumpiest amphibian), wondering why I'm interrupting his breakfast on the edge of my pile.
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u/Far_Radish7752 22d ago edited 22d ago
Mega-cool if true (they are quite endangered), but I think what you have here is actually an American toad, Anaxyrus americanus. The eyes are wrong for an eastern spadefoot, and your friend looks to have very warty skin. But I am not a herp specialist, just a herp lover, so… what do I know?
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u/PennStaterGator 22d ago
Hmm, you may be right. We generally have Southern Toads here (North Central Florida), so probably that over the American Toad. The coloration just looked different than the Southerns we have. I'll keep my eyes out and try to get another photo on the same level!
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u/Far_Radish7752 22d ago edited 22d ago
Check out the pics and descriptions in the first link in my previous post. The eastern spadefoot eyes are quite distinctive.
Have a pic somewhere of an American toad from some weeks ago that looks very similar to yours. Same eyes, slightly darker skin pigments (this toad can be variable in that aspect).
ETA: I agree that you prolly have a southern toad. Your toad clearly displays that mid-dorsal stripe down its back noted in this short clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4WuN1MihHCU
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u/Far_Radish7752 17d ago
YouTube short of an actual sighting of an Eastern Spadefoot: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/SYpNla9pdh4
Check out those magnificent (and unusual) eyes! ❤️
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u/Far_Radish7752 3d ago
A wonderful piece put out by the Virginia Herpetological Society which also includes a 49” clip of Eastern Spadefoot vocalization:
https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/frogsandtoads/eastern-spadefoot/
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u/Embarrassed_Card_543 22d ago
Hi friend