Gastrophryne olivacea
Encyclopedia
The Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) is a species
of microhylid
frog
. They are found throughout much of the south central
United States
from the state of Nebraska
south through Texas
, and into northern Mexico
. Though not a true toad
, they are often referred to as toads, because they are terrestrial.
to grey
-brown
in color, sometimes with black
blotching. Their underside is lighter colored. Their skin secretions can cause severe burning pain if they get into your eyes, it is important wash your hands thoroughly after handling this frog.
s, but most frequently in moist ground or leaf litter, and under rocks or fallen logs. They breed throughout the spring and summer months in pools of water left by rainfall. Their primary diet is ant
s.
of the eastern narrowmouth toad, G. carolinensis
, and when it was granted full species status it was divided into two separate subspecies
for a time. The subspecies were eventually found to be the same.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of microhylid
Microhylidae
Microhylidae is a geographically widespread family of frogs. There are 413 species in 69 genera and nine subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family.-Description:...
frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. They are found throughout much of the south central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from the state of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
south through Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and into northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Though not a true toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
, they are often referred to as toads, because they are terrestrial.
Description
Great plains narrowmouth toads are a small (1.5 inches), flat-bodied species, with a sharply pointed snout. They are typically olive greenGreen
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
to grey
Grey
Grey or gray is an achromatic or neutral color.Complementary colors are defined to mix to grey, either additively or subtractively, and many color models place complements opposite each other in a color wheel. To produce grey in RGB displays, the R, G, and B primary light sources are combined in...
-brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
in color, sometimes with black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
blotching. Their underside is lighter colored. Their skin secretions can cause severe burning pain if they get into your eyes, it is important wash your hands thoroughly after handling this frog.
Behavior & Habitat
The great plains narrowmouth toad is found in a wide range of habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s, but most frequently in moist ground or leaf litter, and under rocks or fallen logs. They breed throughout the spring and summer months in pools of water left by rainfall. Their primary diet is ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s.
Taxonomy
G. olivacea was once considered a subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the eastern narrowmouth toad, G. carolinensis
Gastrophryne carolinensis
The Eastern Narrowmouth Toad is a species of microhylid frog. It is a relatively small, toad-like amphibian found in damp, shady habitats. The species is highly fossorial, and feeds primarily on ants...
, and when it was granted full species status it was divided into two separate subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
for a time. The subspecies were eventually found to be the same.