Anaxyrus quercicus
Description
Oak toads are only found in the coastal counties of Mississippi (Powell et al., 2016). Colors are gray or charcoal-black with blotches and a lighter-colored middorsal line. Cranial crests are not needed to identify. Body sizes are exceptionally small (< 1.5 inches). They inhabit various coastal sandy pine forests and oak/pine scrublands, even near saltmarshes. No subspecies are recognized. Call is similar to a baby bird “peeep” “peeep.”
Identifying Traits
- Diminutive body size
- Gray or charcoal in color
- Yellow, cream, orange, or white middorsal stripe
Habitat
Sandy pine savannas, pitcher plant bogs, pine/oak mixed forests, open and maritime woodlands (Powell et al., 2016)
Behavior
This diminutive toad calls during warm late spring and summer rains, often around pitcher plant bogs and seeps in pine savannas
Diet
Various invertebrates
