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Identifying Fowler's Toad vs. American Toad: A Visual Guide
Identifying Fowler's Toad vs. American Toad: A Visual Guide
When exploring the great outdoors, you may come across various species of toads. Two common species found in North America are the Fowler's toad (*Anaxyrus fowleri*) and the American toad (*Anaxyrus americanus*). At first glance, they might look similar, but with a closer look, there are distinct characteristics that can help you tell them apart. This guide will walk you through these key differences.
Skin Texture
Fowler's Toad: Their skin is more heavily covered with warts than the American toad. Look for large, dark warts within the lighter background color.
American Toad:While also warty, the skin of the American toad tends to have smaller, more uniform warts, and a more uniform color.
Parotoid Glands
Fowler's Toad: The parotoid glands (large glands behind the eyes) are either not touching the cranial crest (a bony ridge behind the eye) or are only slightly touching it.
American Toad: The parotoid glands are usually in contact with the cranial crest, appearing to touch or even overlap it.
Coloration and Patterns
Fowler's Toad: Typically, Fowler's toads exhibit a brown, gray, olive green, or rust coloration with dark spots. Each spot usually contains three or more warts.
American Toad:American toads can also display a variety of colors, including brown, gray, or red. However, their spots tend to be smaller and contain one or two warts.
Belly Markings
Photo Needed
Fowler's Toad: The belly is often white or cream-colored with few to no markings. If there are spots, they're typically sparse.
American Toad: The belly of an American toad is similar in color but usually features more distinct, dark spots.
Call
Fowler's Toad: Their call is a long, harsh, and guttural waahh, resembling a nasally human snore.
American Toad: This toad's call is a sweet, prolonged trill lasting several seconds.
Next time you're out in nature and spot a toad, take a moment to observe these characteristics. Whether it's the texture of their skin, the shape of their parotoid glands, or their distinctive calls, each detail can help you distinguish between a Fowler's toad and an American toad. With this guide and your photos, you'll be a toad-identifying expert in no time!
Identifying crayfish requires looking at several key parts of their body. To help you know what to look for and how to take pictures of these parts, I 've put together a simple guide. This infographic will show you all the important views for crayfish identification.
Eastern Worm Snakes vs. Smooth Earth Snakes In the underbrush and hidden corners of the Eastern United States, two secretive creatures slither unnoticed: the Eastern Worm Snake (*Carphophis amoenus*) and the Smooth Earth Snake (*Virginia valeriae*). Though both are small, non-venomous, and often mistaken for one another, several key characteristics set them apart. This post will guide you through these differences, providing a visual aid to identify these elusive snakes in their natural habitats. Body Shape and Size Eastern Worm Snake: This species is slender and typically measures 7 to 11 inches in length. Their bodies are more cylindrical, resembling earthworms, which is a helpful camouflage against predators. Smooth Earth Snake : Smooth Earth Snakes are slightly thicker in body compared to Worm Snakes and grow to about 7 to 10 inches long. Their build is less cylindrical and more traditionally snake-like. Coloration and Patterns Eastern Worm Snake: The upper side is usually a d
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