Gulf Coast Toad

Incilius nebulifer

The Gulf Coast Toad is a small, bumpy toad that loves to hop around in warm, wet places. They are great at blending in with their surroundings and can be found near ponds and marshes.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Gulf Coast Toad is a medium-sized amphibian, typically brown, gray, or olive, with darker blotches and a light stripe down its back. It has warty skin and prominent kidney-shaped parotoid glands behind its eyes, which distinguish it from many frogs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyBufonidaeGenusIncilius

Gulf Coast Toad

Interesting facts

Gulf Coast Toad tadpoles sometimes swim in huge groups called 'schools' to look like one big creature!

Their eyes have horizontal pupils, which help them see predators approaching from above!

These toads prefer to walk or make short hops instead of big jumps, unlike many frogs!

They gulp air with tiny movements of their throat, not by breathing through lungs like us!

Special abilities

Gulf Coast Toads have parotoid glands that produce toxins to make predators spit them out quickly.

Gulf Coast Toads have hard 'spades' on their hind feet that help them quickly burrow backwards into soft soil for safety.

Gulf Coast Toads can subtly adjust their skin tone to blend into their surroundings, making them tricky for predators to spot.

Measurements & details

Length: 5-13 cm
Weight: 0.02-0.1 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 2 km/h
Clutch Size: 2000-7000
Metamorphosis: 30-60 days

Diet & Feeding

These toads are nocturnal hunters, munching on insects and other small invertebrates they find on the ground.

Primary Foods

beetles
ants
crickets
spiders
slugs

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Western Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis proximus

A common snake predator in its natural habitat.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Nocturnal owls frequently prey on toads at night.

hunts

Silky Ant

Formica subsericea

Actively hunts and consumes ground-dwelling ants.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Omnivorous mammals, like raccoons, will eat toads.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.