



Eastern Narrowmouth Toad - Gastrophryne
carolinensis

- Diagnostic Features:
- Size: 1 to 1.5 inches (22 to 38 mm)
- Color:
- Varies with environment; may be brown, gray, or
reddish
- Other:
- Small, oval body with smooth skin
- Small head with pointed snout
- Fold of skin immediately behind eyes
- Belly strongly mottled
- Broad dorsolateral stripe, center of back dark;
Dark spots in mottled pattern on dorsum may obscure dark dorsum with
light stripes
- Sexual Dimorphism:
- Natural History:
- Habitat:
- This toad prefers areas of ample moisture and
cover. It is found near ponds with fallen logs and other debris.
- Behavior:
- It feeds mainly on ants, but eats a variety of
insects. It remains underground or hidden in debris during the day.
- Breeding:
- Breeding takes place from March to September with
rain.
- Males call while floating in water with forelimbs
resting on a stem or twig.
- Males will scuttle away under debris rather than
over
- Normally in shallow water unless lots of floating
vegetation
- Rain initiates breeding
- Packets of eggs are laid on the surface of the water
- Normally about 850 eggs
- Voice: Sonogram
: Call
( Dade, Dougherty, & Troup Counties )
- Bleating call, lamb like, lasting 1/2 -4 seconds
- Tadpoles:
- Tadpole stage: 20 - 70 days
- Transformed size: 8.5 - 12 mm
- Tadpole is a plankton feeder

- medial margins of oral flaps divergent and with smooth
edges; temporary pools during summer; widespread east and west of
Mississippi River
- dorsum mostly black in life (lighter at night) and
preservative, never gray or brassy; belly dark with pale blotches and
mottling; lateral pale tail stripe bright and distinct at least
basally; temporary lentic sites formed by seasonal rains; eastern Texas
north to central Missouri
- Range:
- In North America, this toad is found from southern
Maryland to the Florida keys; west to Misouri and east Texas;
introduced in the bahamas.
- In Georgia, it is found throughout the state, but more
common in the south.


- In Light
Blue: Williamson, Gerald K. & Moulis,
Robert A., Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia, Special
Publication No. 3, Savannah Science Museum, Inc. Savannah, Georgia, 1994
- In Green:
Sound Recordings
- In Yellow:
From Both '94 study and Sound Recordings
- In Magenta:
Photograph, not found by '94, may or may not be sound record
- In Medium
Blue: Photograph and in '94 study, may or may
not be sound record
- In Orange:
County Record by other Herp Atlas Volunteers
- In Red:
US Distribution from various sources


September 9, 2006 - wwknapp@mindspring.com