Any Toads out there?

[TonyW]

Sorry - mean I toad experts :D. I think it's a toad but I'm having a hard time finding a way to identify it. Spotted sitting on the barbecue today. Not the greatest of pictures but I didn't want to disturb it. Amazing camoflage - I thought it was a stone until I saw the eye. About 3 inches long and looking from the top almost completely round.

Any one know what it is?

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1LmxiKYt8l6p1rdmKHCrSaCrUerWx_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1LmxiKYt8l6p1rdmKHCrSaCrUerWx)

Tony

[Chuck S.]

Tony: Best guess: Canadian Toad. Still looking at online ID sites, though.

[Shari]

I have no idea but we have great Canadian toads here!!! The photo and the toad are both amazing. Thanks for sharing Tony.
Shari

[JulieM]

I'm hoping you made alternate dinner plans? :eek: :eek:

[Chuck S.]

I'm hoping you made alternate dinner plans? :eek: :eek:

Mmmmmmm - les cuisses de grenouille......!!

:D

[Byron Gale]

...les cuisses de grenouille
Il goûte comme le poulet.

[TonyW]

Tony: Best guess: Canadian Toad. Still looking at online ID sites, though.

I wondered about that but there aren't supposed to be any in Ontario and I'm having a tough time finding anything that looks like it - mind you with its legs tucked in it probably looks nothing like it would if it wasn't trying to be inconspicuous.

And Julie - I'm cooking in tonight - no frogs legs on the barbecue :D

Tony

[Chuck S.]

One other possibility: Tetraploid Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor). See this reference:

Tetraploid Gray Tree Frog (http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/glfc-amphibians/hyla-versicolor)

[Tom K]

Tony, I hope that thing don't have teeth and a mean disposition... Tom :p

[TonyW]

Chuck: Thanks for that I think you've got it :) From your clue I found this:

http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/06/27/what-do-you-see/

The description and pictures fit - I liked the bit about hunkering down and cringing. That's just what he/she was doing.

I guess I'll be listening tonight:

http://www.naturewatch.ca/databases/frogs/audio/hyla_versicolor.wav

Tony

[AngelicKim]

One other possibility: Tetraploid Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor). See this reference:

Tetraploid Gray Tree Frog (http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/glfc-amphibians/hyla-versicolor)

That is what I was coming back to suggest. It was the closest I could find to the photo.

[GaryK]

Geez Tony

That sounded a bit like the beginning of "Calling Occupants" by Klaatu.:D

[Ellen]

Great find guys, what a different call from the tree frog here (hyla regilla or spring peeper is a common name)

[Wendy]

Hi Tony ...

Oh it is so cute ... I love toads :)

Wendy

[NMarti]

Tony great shot! I would probably have picked up the rock to toss it off and had an immediate heart attack when it moved! :eek::D:D

[Wendy]

Oh Nancy ...

Its only a Toad ... I once had one as a pet. Its name was Tippy :)

OK I admit it I was a very peculiar child and collected everythig and anything.

Wendy

[jazzfisher]

Great shot, I suggest checking it's chromosomes, if you can find them!:D



Wendy, we always had frogs, toads & tadpoles---you weren't peculiar!:D

[NMarti]

Wendy
I had plenty of toads around with 7 brothers (no really - I wasn't talking about the boys:D) but if I thought is was a rock and it moved I definitely would have freaked.

Tony - is your friend still visiting or did he move on to fool someone else?

[troush]

I'm with you, Nancy - you think, "Oh, one of the kids put a rock on the barbeque" and you go to grab it then it jumps, or squirms or something - I'd be screaming, too.

-Trish

[TonyW]

Tony - is your friend still visiting or did he move on to fool someone else?

Yesterday I would have said he's moved on but I heard a peep in the night and sure enough he's back on the barbecue. So it looks like we have a pet tree frog :). I say he but it could well be a she - I can't tell the difference although I believe the males are noisier than the females :)

Tony

[NMarti]

Tony
I guess you'll know in a few weeks if there is suddenly a "chorus" in your back yard instead of a single forlorn song. :D

[quillabee9]

If you get the chorus, you know that 'froggy went a courtin'." uh huh

[robpendragon]

Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride.
With a sword and a pistol by his side, Uh-huh.

[kimh]

Rob.....you're crazy:D
I'm scared of frogs....I just can't help it. I kayak/ camp w/the snakes and gators but the "gulp" frogs would send me flying. Now that's peculiar:rolleyes:
Kimh

[robpendragon]

Crazy huh? Don't know what you mean Kim, anyway......Welllllllllll! he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door.
Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, Uh-huh.

Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,
Said he, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,
Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?"
"Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin," Uh-huh.

He took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee.
Said, "Miss Mousey, will you marry me?" Uh-huh.

"Without my uncle Rat's consent, Uh-huh
"Without my uncle Rat's consent, Uh-huh
"Without my uncle Rat's consent.
I wouldn't marry the president, Uh-huh

Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides,.
To think his niece would be a bride, Uh-huh.

Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown.
To buy his niece a wedding gown, Uh-huh

Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be?
Way down yonder in a hollow tree, Uh-huh

What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be?
Fried mosquito in a black-eye pea, Uh-huh.

Well, first to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin' moth.
She laid out the table cloth, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a juney bug.
She brought the water jug, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbley bee.
Sat mosquito on his knee, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a broken black flea.
Danced a jig with the bumbley bee, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow.
She tried to dance but she didn't know how, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick.
She ate so much she made us sick, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake.
Ate up all of the wedding cake, Uh-huh.

Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat.
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, Uh-huh.

Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook.
A lily-white duck come and swallowed him up, Uh-huh.

A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf.
If you want anymore, you can sing it yourself, Uh-huh.

[AngelicKim]

I had no idea that song was so long.

Nancy and Kim, just like anything else, that toad or frog is more afraid of you then you are of it. There is a frog photo in my gallery I added a couple of weeks ago. It took forever to get the shot. I had to sneek back to that hole several times to get that shot. I was so quiet and couldn't figure out what kept scaring it away and finally I realized it was the lens. I was using my 100-300mm zoom as not to get to close and I had it on autofocus. Even though it is a pretty quiet lens he still heard it. I took this shot on manual and it was the only shot I got as the shutter sent him right back down the hole. My son says "Mom why didn't you try to catch it for me?" Yeah right, I was lucky to catch it on the camera.:D He then said "Well, turtles are slow, why didn't you catch it for me?"