Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad |
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| Gastrophryne olivacea | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gastrophryne
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| Species: |
olivacea
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| Synonyms | |
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Engystoma olivaceum |
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The Gastrophryne olivacea, also known as the Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad or western narrow-mouthed toad, is a small frog that lives on land. You can find it in the south-central United States, from Nebraska down through Texas, and into northern Mexico. Even though it's called a "toad," it's actually a type of frog.
What They Look Like
Great Plains narrow-mouthed toads are small, usually about 1.5 inches long. They have a flat body and a pointy snout. Their skin is often olive green to grey-brown, and sometimes they have black spots. Their bellies are lighter in color. These toads can release a special liquid from their skin. It's important not to touch your eyes after handling them, as this liquid can cause a burning feeling.
Where They Live and What They Do
You can find these toads in many different places. They often live on moist ground, in piles of leaves, or under rocks and fallen logs. They like areas where the ground stays damp.
These toads lay their eggs during spring and summer. They choose pools of water that form after it rains. Their favorite food is ants. They mostly eat ants, which helps control insect populations.
How Scientists Classify Them
Scientists group living things into categories. The Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) was once thought to be a type of subspecies of the eastern narrow-mouthed toad (G. carolinensis). This means they were considered very similar.
However, scientists sometimes change how they classify animals as they learn more. Today, the Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad is seen as its own unique species. There are no smaller groups (subspecies) within this toad's classification right now. In 2012, another group that was once part of this species became its own full species, called the Sinaloan Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne mazatlanensis).
- Gastrophryne olivacea on Amphibiaweb.org
See also
In Spanish: Gastrophryne olivacea para niños
