Gulf coast toad, master of playing statues #nature #wildlife #67 #amphibians #shorts #fyp #toads

Check out the markings on this juvenile male gulf coast toad : r/Toads
Gulf Coast Toads are adaptable amphibians known for living in suburban areas and feeding on garden pests like insects and slugs. They have a distinctive cranial ridge and rough skin for camouflage, and they release a toxic substance from glands behind their eyes to defend themselves from predators. These nocturnal toads are beneficial in gardens, where they can be encouraged by building toad houses.
Pest Control
Garden Helpers: Gulf Coast Toads are beneficial to gardens because they eat a large number of insects, slugs, and spiders.
Toad Houses: You can encourage them to live in your yard by building a toad house, which provides shelter and a moist environment.
Defense and Hunting
Toxic Secretion: A paratoid gland behind their eyes produces a toxin that can irritate human skin but is dangerous to animals like dogs, causing them to spit out the toad.
Hunting Tactics: They are primarily nocturnal, hunting insects attracted to lights. They also use a "toe-tapping" behavior with their back feet to either attract prey or keep it moving, making it easier to see.
Habitat and Behavior
Urban Thriving: Unlike many amphibians, Gulf Coast Toads thrive in suburban environments, often found hiding under concrete slabs or in gardens.
Nocturnal and Solitary: These toads are typically solitary and most active at night, seeking shelter during the day in places like holes under concrete or in the soil.
Breeding: During the breeding season, males will call to attract females. Females lay their eggs in long strings in the water, which hatch into tadpoles before developing into toads.
Identification
Cranial Ridge: A prominent ridge along the head and down the spine differentiates them from other toad species.
Appearance: They have rough, bumpy skin for camouflage and are typically brown or olive-colored with yellow streaks and splotches