Herpetofauna - One Life's List

Dwarf American Toad
Bufo americanus charlesmithi

Union Co., Illinois. October 1994.
 

Photo by Ken Felsman

 There are many toads on the Snake Road.  There are times when you can't walk ten steps without seeing a toad, and unless you've time to marvel over each and every one, it's best to just watch where you step and continue on.  For the most part they are Fowler's Toads, one of the most common toads of the eastern U.S.

The little rusty red toads caught our eyes and interest.  Upon examination, they proved to have relatively few spots, with one wart in a spot for the most part (one of the handy toad identifiers) as opposed to 2-3 warts for Fowler's Toad.  The paratoid glands were separate from the postorbital ridge behind the eye, also different from Fowler's...the field guide points to American Toad, and the geographic location and rusty-red color narrowed it down to charlesmithi.

Where we found the little toadie is relatively high ground, and many times when we pass through the area we'll spot one of these gorgeous little non-Fowlers.

 
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