One reason that I love Herpetology so much, and this applies to pretty much anything else biology related, is that it's full of first time finds. There are so many different species of reptiles and amphibians, and I know that no matter how many I find-there's always going to be something I haven't seen yet. The Narrow-Mouthed Toad was one of them for me, and there just so happened to be one nestled into the damp earth beneath an old log in our back yard! I knew what it was the instant I saw it, and I was seriously so excited. I'm telling you...that never gets old :)
Narrow Mouthed Toads are easily recognized by their short pointy snout, plump body, and slight skin fold behind the head (see photo below). This particular individual had a beautiful olive coloration which is typical of the Western Narrow-Mouthed Toad who's distribution range overlaps in this area with that of the Eastern Narrow-Mouthed toad. These guys are often found burrowing into loose soil underneath objects such as logs and rocks. They feed primarily on ants, but they also enjoy other insects and small beetles. Males are known to have a darker throat coloration, and although I didn't get a photo of the underside of this one, I believe she is a female.
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