alyweber
Eastern American Toad
This is an Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus, found in Frederick, Maryland on the night of April 15th. While we were walking through the park many toads could be seen on the sidewalk pavement out for the night. The American toad is most active at night spending most of its day hiding under ground litter. The American toad exhibits two different types of predation defenses, the first being cryptic coloration. Though not clear in the picture, the toad camouflages very well into its natural environment such as the underbrush of small forests. In fact, when feeling threatened it often crouches low and remains still, relying on its camouflage. The other predation defense it exhibits is chemical defense. The parotoid glands and skin of this toad secrete a chemical known as bufotoxin. While this is a good chemical defense for the toad, unfortunately it is not uncommon for curious dogs to become the victim of toad poisoning.
Eastern American Toad
This is an Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus, found in Frederick, Maryland on the night of April 15th. While we were walking through the park many toads could be seen on the sidewalk pavement out for the night. The American toad is most active at night spending most of its day hiding under ground litter. The American toad exhibits two different types of predation defenses, the first being cryptic coloration. Though not clear in the picture, the toad camouflages very well into its natural environment such as the underbrush of small forests. In fact, when feeling threatened it often crouches low and remains still, relying on its camouflage. The other predation defense it exhibits is chemical defense. The parotoid glands and skin of this toad secrete a chemical known as bufotoxin. While this is a good chemical defense for the toad, unfortunately it is not uncommon for curious dogs to become the victim of toad poisoning.