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| Olivia Scott photo |
The Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus), at only an inch long, is the smallest toad in North America.
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| creative commons illustration from Wikipedia |
With a range on the coastal plains of the Southern United States, this elusive toad prefers scrub, xeric and longleaf pine habitat, with available breeding ponds during the summer rainy season.
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| Olivia Scott photo |
Oak Toads are diurnal, eat small insects and other arthropods...but prefer ants....hopefully fire ants!
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| creative commons photo from Wikipedia Sadly, they are sold as pets. $10.99, but OUT OF STOCK! |
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| Olivia Scott photo |
Breeding in the summer and hibernating during the cold months, they live two to four years. Above shows some good camouflage...they are really hard to spot unless they move.
Males are smaller and have a vocal sac on their throat.
Though abundant in undisturbed, preferred habitat, constant human development in the coastal southern US and predation by exotic species from the pet trade are threats.
Since wife Olivia's photos are shown here, and she had the sharp eye to spot these little guys, I'll make this a guest post! Photos taken at Don Pedro State Park land base. Placida, Florida.
i think i may have seen this oak toad. they look like sad.
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