Genus Species: Gastrophryne olivacea

Size: ¾ - 1½”

Location: Found in the Arkansas River Valley and sporadically in the Coastal Plain

Advertisement Call: Loud, long buzz of an angry bee

 

Description:

This toad is also known as the Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad, but is listed as Western in the FrogWatch USA™ Field Scope database.  Arkansas is at the eastern edge of its range.  The belly of this toad is light and without markings - unlike his Eastern cousin.  Like his cousin he has a fat body, pointed snout, no tympanum, and smooth skin.

Interesting Fact: The preferred food of this toad is ants and it has developed a skin toxin to protect it from ant bites.

Their mating habits are similar to the Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad.  The Western Narrow-mouthed Toad is a member of the Microhylidae (Narrow-mouthed Toad) family and is a New Frog (Neobatrachia).

Click for more about Western Narrow-mouthed Toads at Herps of Arkansas.