Frog of the Week: Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed Toad

Although in reality a frog, this microhylid, Gastrophryne olivacea, is terrestrial and so is often referred to as a toad. Microhylids are a family of frogs that are mostly smaller than an inch and a half.

You can clearly see why these are called “micro” hylids. Source.

This small frog is found all over the southwestern U.S., as far south as Texas. As you can see, they have flattened bodies with pointy noses. Note also the wrinkle behind their eyes, which they share with other microhylids, but is relatively rare in frog species.

These two frogs are in amplexus (mating position)–the male secretes a special glue from his belly to help him hold on.

They secrete a toxin that is very painful if gotten into the eyes. Since the frog eats mostly ants, it has been hypothesized that the toxin was meant to protect the frog from ant bites, which I know from experience are very painful!

The frog is well-camouflaged for its preferred habitat of decaying leaves and rocky areas. Source.

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Frog of the Week #11: Mossy Frog

An excellent example of the camouflage skills frogs can employ, the Vietnamese mossy frog, Theloderma corticale, spends its time in mossy, flooded caves in Vietnam (and, as Wikipedia mentions, perhaps in neighboring countries Laos and China). A popular pet, this frog is certainly visually appealing and is perhaps one of the more unique-looking but still beautiful frogs you can commonly find sold in pet stores (see the Budgett’s Frog).

A couple of mossy frogs hanging out together.

This frog will apparently curl into a ball when it is frightened!

A juvenile mossy frog in some leaf litter.

Mossy frogs are unfortunately threatened by habitat loss, like most frogs.

It is said that a mossy frog sitting quietly in moss is impossible to find [1], and I can imagine why!

Find the frog:

It probably took you a second.

Like numerous other species of frogs, including the famous red-eyed tree frog, the mossy frog lays its eggs in plants overhanging the water, allowing the tadpoles to drop into the pool after they hatch.

I love the surprising reddish hues on these frogs. At first they’re almost invisible.

As always, thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any questions about frogs, or would like to see a frog featured next time.

Images used are from contactpets.co.uk, tumblr.com, thetoepad.com, thisisthestoryof.files.wordpress.com, and hoothollow.com. Let me know if I’ve used your image and you’d like it removed.