Eastern Narrow-Mouth Toad

Scientific name: Gastrophryne carolinensis

These distinct little toads are easily recognizable for their oval bodies and pointed heads, as well as their unique call that is a single bleating trill. They’re shy and nocturnal, but they are native to Florida statewide, so while the may be hard to spot, they are easy to hear near ponds and wet ditches during the warm seasons. And it’s recommended that people carefully wash after handling them because their skin produces a mucus that is an irritant.

Appearance

Eastern narrow-mouth toad
Eastern narrow-mouth toad, Gastrophryne carolinensis. Florida Museum photos by Kenneth Krysko

Small and stout, they’re usually 1 to 1.25 inches long with oblong bodies that taper to a pointed head. They have smooth skin and long toes without webbing or bubbly ends. They’re usually brown to reddish to gray-black and have an irregular strip along their sides, often partially obscured by their blotchy coloring.

Behavior

These toads are somewhat shy and prefer to live close to their breeding pools year-round. They are nocturnal and can be found burrowed in sandy soil or debris, and even when calling during mating season, will do so from under cover of water or grassy shelter. Although they are highly terrestrial and live low to the ground, they are tolerant of brackish water which allows them to live in the Florida Keys and other island environments. It is believed that they can live more than 6 years in the wild.

Sound

Eastern Narrow-Mouth Toad

Food

Insectivores. They eat mainly ants, termites, beetles and other invertebrates.

Florida counties, statewide rangeHabitat & Range

Notable

These toads produce a toxic mucus on their skin that tastes terrible to many animals, and can significantly irritate or burn sensitive eye and mouth tissue. Although they have adapted to brackish water, they are less tolerant of urbanization and are losing habitat to land development.

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