Oak toads are predaceous and feed primarily on terrestrial insects and other small arthropods.
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)
The primary predators of oak toads are snakes, particularly hognosed snakes (Heterodon platirhinos), specialized for eating toads. Other predators of oak toads are garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) and gopher frogs (Lithobates capito).
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Anaxyrus quercicus is the smallest toad species in North America, ranging from 1.9 to 3.3 cm. It is so small that adults found in the wild were commonly classified as “half-grown” or “juvenile” southern toads (Bufo lentiginosus). They have a short head with a pointed nose and the short, flat body is black or brown in color (color can change with temperature) with a long dorsal stripe that may be white, cream, yellow, or orange. There are 4 to 5 pairs of dark blotches found on the back. The back is finely tuberculate, with the fine bumps (red, orange or reddish-brown in color) giving it a rough texture. The underside is grayish white and has no blotches, but is covered in tubercles. Oak toads have elongated, teardrop-shaped paratoid glands that extend down either side. These glands house a poisonous fluid used deter predators. Males can be distinguished by their dark, dusky colored throats.
Range length: 19 to 33 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; poisonous
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger; sexes shaped differently
Oak toad lifespans are not well known.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 1.9 years.
Oak toads are generally found in moist, grassy areas near pine or oak savannahs with sandy soil. They are also found in vernal pools and freshwater wetlands. They breed in shallow pools, ditches, and ponds.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial ; freshwater
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools
Wetlands: marsh
Oak toads are found in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. They are found from the southern tip of Florida to the southern portion of Virginia and to parts of eastern Louisiana.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Although smaller than other toads, the Oak Toad still plays a crucial role in insect population control.
Oak toads help control population levels of insects and other small arthropods.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
There are no known negative impacts of oak toads on humans.
In the span of two months, tadpoles hatch from their eggs and go through metamorphosis, becoming adult toads. Tadpoles have a grayish olive or grape green color to the body due to close set dots against a black background. The underside has a pale purplish color. the tail has 6-7 black saddles (coloration that wraps around the tail to a degree). Juvenile toads remain near the natal pond for a few days before moving to land, where they will spend the majority of their time.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Male oak toads make a high-pitched, bird-like chirping calls to attract females. Oak toads perceive their environment through visual, auditory, tactile, and chemical senses.
Communication Channels: acoustic
Other Communication Modes: choruses
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Oak toad populations are declining throughout many states. In Virginia it is listed as a species of special concern (one that is not yet threatened but is expected to be in the near future). Also, in North Carolina, it is on the watch list for species that may be facing problems in the near future. A possible cause for decreases in oak toad populations is the clearing of the savannah forest habitats they prefer.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Males arrive before females at shallow, semi-permanent or temporary ponds, and roadside drainage ditches. At breeding ponds males establish territories and begin calling females with a high-pitched chirp. Approximately 100-250 eggs are laid at a time in long strings, held together by a gelatinous material, and either float or stick to surfaces. Fertilization takes place externally when the male frog releases his sperm in the vicinity of the eggs. In the case of a testicular malfunction, male oak toads have an ovary that will become functional, allowing them to breed as females.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Male and female oak toads form a pair when the male grabs onto the female from behind in a position referred to as amplexus. The male stays attached to the female until she releases her eggs into the water. The female emits several eggs and then the male releases sperm into the water. The female will continue to release eggs. The eggs are released in bars containing 4-6 eggs apiece. Each female will lay about 700 eggs in total in a single season. These eggs will hatch within 3 to 3.5 days and develop into adult oak toads within 2 months.
Breeding interval: Oak toads are seasonal breeders and breeds once per year.
Breeding season: Oak toads breed from April to September or October. The mating season often begins with the arrival of warmer temperatures and thunderstorms. The interval of ovulation is approximately late May-mid August.
Average number of offspring: 700.
Range time to hatching: 72 to 80 hours.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
The extent of female energy investment is great during the ovulation and mating periods, as many females are found dead during these periods due to either the rigors of pair formation or energy investment in the laying of eggs. Once the eggs are fertilized and attached to a surface, there is no further parental care.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning)
Anaxyrus quercicus és una espècie d'amfibi que viu als Estats Units.
Es troba amenaçada d'extinció per la pèrdua del seu hàbitat natural.
Anaxyrus quercicus és una espècie d'amfibi que viu als Estats Units.
Es troba amenaçada d'extinció per la pèrdua del seu hàbitat natural.
The oak toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the coastal regions of southeastern United States.[2][3] It is regarded as the smallest species of toad in North America, with a length of 19 to 33 mm (0.75 to 1.30 in).[3]
The oak toad can be identified by its light mid-dorsal stripe, variable brown and black spots, and proportionally large parotoid glands. One of the most remarkable features of this species is its small adult size relative to other toads.
The male can be distinguished from the female by his clear white belly and a slightly distended, loose flap of skin beneath the mouth, which expands into the vocal sac. The female has a dark-spotted belly and lacks a vocal sac.
The oak toad is native to the coastal regions of the southeastern United States, ranging from eastern Louisiana to southeast Virginia and south throughout Florida. It is found in a variety of habitats, including sandy pine flatwoods and oak scrub, open pine and pine-oak woods, pine or oak savanna with sandy soils, and maritime forests. Oak toads prefer open-canopied pine flatwoods with grassy ground cover, and they are generally found in moist, grassy areas near pine or oak savannahs with sandy soil. They are also found in vernal pools and freshwater wetlands.[1][4] [5]
It is mostly diurnal and spends much of its time burrowed into the loose soil of its habitat. It may remain in its burrow during the winter, often in hibernation.[6] Breeding takes place in shallow pools that accumulate during heavy rains. The male expands his distinctive elongated vocal sac to produce a chirping call. The breeding season extends from April to October, peaking early on.[7][8] Heavy, warm spring rains stimulate mating behavior.[9]
An average of 300 to 500 eggs are laid in short strands of 3 to 8 eggs each, with each egg about a millimeter wide.[6] The strands are attached to vegetation, usually submerged blades of grass 4 to 12 cm (1.6 to 4.7 in) beneath the surface.[10][11] Energy investment in producing this quantity of eggs is significant, and many females are found dead during the mating season due to the rigors of the process. Fertilization takes place externally, with sperm being released in the vicinity of the eggs. As with other species of toad, the male oak toad has a Bidder's organ, which can become a functional ovary in the event of testicular malfunction.[12][13]
The oak toad is a small, terrestrial frog that feeds on a variety of insects and other small invertebrates. Its diet consists primarily of ants, beetles, and spiders, as well as other insects and arthropods. The oak toad spends much of its time foraging for food, using its long, sticky tongue to capture prey. The oak toad eats mainly small insects and other arthropods. The adult has a strong preference for ants.[6]
Eggs develop quickly, hatching in a mere 24 to 36 hours.[6] The tadpole reaches a maximum length of 18 to 19.4 mm (0.71 to 0.76 in). It is grayish olive or grape-green dorsally and purplish ventrally. The tail has 6 or 7 black saddle marks.[12][13] The tadpole completes metamorphosis into a juvenile toadlet in 4 to 6 weeks, and it reaches adulthood and sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2.3 years of age.[6] The length of the lifespan is unclear.[3] There are records of specimens living for four years in captivity,[10][12] and the reported average lifespan in captivity is 1.9 years.[14]
The primary predators of the oak toad are snakes, particularly hognosed snakes, which are specialized for eating toads. Other predators include garter snakes and gopher frogs.[12][15] As with many bufonids, the oak toad inflates its body in unkenreflex when confronted by a potential predator. It secretes toxins from its parotoid glands and urinates when threatened. The male may chirp as a response to predators. Eggs also appear to have some toxic properties.[6]
The oak toad is listed as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1] It can become rare locally due to habitat replacement by loblolly pine plantations, urbanization and draining of surface water in its preferred wooded habitats.[1]
The oak toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the coastal regions of southeastern United States. It is regarded as the smallest species of toad in North America, with a length of 19 to 33 mm (0.75 to 1.30 in).
Anaxyrus quercicus es una especie de anfibio anuro de la familia de sapos Bufonidae. Anteriormente incluida en el género Bufo. Es un endemismo de las regiones costeras del sureste de Estados Unidos en los estados Virginia, Misisipi, Luisiana.[1] Se considera la especie de sapo más pequeña de Norteamérica con una longitud de 33 mm.[1]
Se puede identificar por la banda clara en el medio del dorso, marrón variable y manchas negras y proporcionalmente grandes glándulas parotoides. Son principalmente diurnos y se pueden encontrar en los bosques de pinos escondidos en los restos vegetales. Es un especie carnívora que se alimenta principalmente de insectos. La reproducción tiene lugar en estanques poco profundos provocados por las lluvias. Los machos tienen un saco bucal alargado que se extiende para producir su llamada característica. Su hábitat natural son los bosques templados, matorrales, lagos y marismas temporales, tierras de cultivo, pastos, regadíos, canales y diques. Se encuentra amenazado por pérdida de su hábitat.
Anaxyrus quercicus es una especie de anfibio anuro de la familia de sapos Bufonidae. Anteriormente incluida en el género Bufo. Es un endemismo de las regiones costeras del sureste de Estados Unidos en los estados Virginia, Misisipi, Luisiana. Se considera la especie de sapo más pequeña de Norteamérica con una longitud de 33 mm.
Anaxyrus quercicus Anaxyrus generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Bufonidae familian sailkatuta dago, Anura ordenan.
Anaxyrus quercicus est une espèce d'amphibiens de la famille des Bufonidae[1].
Cette espèce est endémique de l'Est des États-Unis[1]. Elle se rencontre dans la plaine côtière dans le sud-est de la Virginie, dans l'est de la Caroline du Nord, dans l'Est de la Caroline du Sud, en Géorgie, en Floride, en Alabama, dans le Sud du Mississippi et dans l'Est de la Louisiane.
Anaxyrus quercicus mesure au maximum 32 mm[2].
Anaxyrus quercicus est une espèce d'amphibiens de la famille des Bufonidae.
Il rospo quercia (Anaxyrus quercicus) è una specie di rospo appartenente alla famiglia dei Bufonidae endemico delle regioni costiere del sud-est degli Stati Uniti.[2] È registrata come la più piccola specie di rospo del Nord America, con una lunghezza che varia tra 19 e 33 mm.[2]
Il rospo quercia può essere identificato grazie alle sue chiare strisce a metà del dorso, macchie di colore variabile tra marrone e nero, e ghiandole parotidee proporzionalmente grandi. Una delle caratteristiche più particolari di questa specie è la piccola dimensione degli esemplari adulti al confronto con quelli delle altre specie.
.
Questa specie di rospo ha il suo habitat naturale nelle foreste temperate e di macchia, laghi di acqua dolce e paludi, terre arabili ed irrigate, pascoli, stagni e fossati.
L'areale del rospo quercia si estende lungo le pianure costiere del sud-est degli Stati Uniti, dalla Louisiana orientale alla Virginia meridionale e ancora più a sud fino alla Florida.[3]
Questo rospo si nutre principalmente di piccoli insetti ed altri artropodi. L'esemplare adulto ha una forte preferenza per le formiche.[4]
È una specie principalmente diurna e spende gran parte del tempo interrato nel terreno del suo habitat. Può rimanere nel suo riparo per tutto l'inverno, spesso in stato di letargo.[4]
La riproduzione avviene specchi d'acqua poco profondi creatisi con le forti piogge. I maschi espandono dunque la loro particolare sacca vocale producendo un richiamo simile ad un cinguettio. La stagione riproduttiva va da aprile ad ottobre, con un picco nella fase iniziale.[5][6] Le abbondanti, tiepide piogge primaverili stimolano l'accoppiamento.[7]
Una media di 300-500 uova vengono deposte in piccoli filamenti di circa 3-8 uova ciascuno, con ogni uovo circa 1 mm largo.[4] I fili sono attaccati alla vegetazione, solitamente a fili d'erba sommersi a una profondità di 4-12 cm.[8][9] L'energia impiegata per produrre questa grande quantità di uova è importante, e quindi molti esemplari femmina sono ritrovati morti durante la stagione degli accoppiamenti a causa della fatica del processo. La fecondazione avviene esternamente, con lo sperma rilasciato dal maschio nella vicinanza delle uova. Come altre specie di rospo, il maschio possiede l'organo di Bidder, che può diventare un ovario funzionante nel caso di una disfunzione testicolare.[10][11]
Le uova si sviluppano velocemente, schiudendosi nel giro di solo 24-36 ore.[4] I girini raggiungono una lunghezza massima che varia tra 18 e 19,4 mm. È di colore oliva-grigiastro o verde-violaceo sul dorso e violetto sul ventre. La coda ha 6 o7 macchie nere a sella.[10][11] I girini completano la metamorfosi in una fase giovanile di rospo in 4-6 settimane, e raggiunge l'età adulta e riproduttiva tra 1,5 e 2,3 anni di età.[4]
La durata della vita di questa specie non è chiara.[2] Ci sono testimonianze di esemplari vissuti anche 4 anni in cattività,[8][10] e la media ponderata di sopravvivenza in cattività è di 1,9 anni.[12]
I predatori primari di questa specie sono i serpenti, e in particolare delle specie appartenenti al genere Heteredon, che sono specializzati nella cattura dei rospi. Altri predatori includono altri tipi di serpenti e rane.[10][13]
Come molti altri appartenenti a questa famiglia di Bufonidi, il rospo quercia assume la unkenreflex quando si trova di fronte ad un possibile predatore. L'esemplare secerne tossine dalle sue ghiandole parotidee e urina quando si sente in pericolo. Il maschio può cinguenttare come risposta ai predatori. Le uova pare abbiano qualche proprietà velenosa.[4]
Il rospo quercia (Anaxyrus quercicus) è una specie di rospo appartenente alla famiglia dei Bufonidae endemico delle regioni costiere del sud-est degli Stati Uniti. È registrata come la più piccola specie di rospo del Nord America, con una lunghezza che varia tra 19 e 33 mm.
De eikpad[2] (Anaxyrus quercicus) is een kikker uit de familie padden (Bufonidae).[3]
De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door John Edwards Holbrook in 1840. Oorspronkelijk werd de wetenschappelijke naam Bufo quercicus gebruikt, de soort behoorde later tot onder andere de geslachten Chilophryne en Incilius.
De eikpad is een vrij kleine soort in vergelijking met andere padden, het lichaam bereikt een lengte van 1,9 tot 3,3 centimeter.[4] De kikker heeft een vrij plat, rond lichaam met een grijze tot bijna zwarte basiskleur en op de rug enkele zeer grote, grillige vlekken die altijd donkerbruin tot zwart zijn en doen denken aan een landkaarttekening; sommige vlekken zijn rond, andere erg lang en ze vullen vrijwel de gehele rug. Op het midden van de rug zit een duidelijk zichtbare, witte tot oranjegele groef die boven de neusgaten begint en eindigt bij de cloaca. Over het hele lichaam zitten kleine wratjes die vaak een afwijkende kleur hebben, zoals rood tot geel.
Deze soort heeft een voorkeur voor de wat grassige plaatsen in het bos, maar wordt soms kilometers ver van water aangetroffen omdat een vochtige omgeving voorziet in de waterbehoefte. Meestal zit de kikker tussen de bladeren of in ondiepe holletjes te wachten tot er een prooi voorbij komt. Het is een van de kleinere echte padden met een lengte van nog geen 3,5 centimeter en de prooidieren zijn daar ook naar; kleine insecten en de larven ervan en andere kleine geleedpotigen. Deze soort is voornamelijk dagactief, maar als het weer te schraal is kan de kikker wekenlang onder stenen of planten wachten tot het vochtiger wordt.
De paartijd loopt van april tot oktober, en de mannetjes lokken de vrouwtjes met de zeer grote kwaakblaas. De meeste kikkers hebben een ronde kwaakblaas, deze soort echter heeft een sterk vergrote, worstvormige keelblaas. De kwaakblaas kan twee keer zo hoog worden als de kikker zelf waardoor het dier lijkt te ontploffen iedere keer als er wordt gekwaakt. Door de grotere keelzak kan echter een veel harder geluid worden gemaakt. De lokroep klinkt als het gepiep van een jong vogeltje, maar dan zeer luid. Als men bij enkele kwakende exemplaren in de buurt staat doet het pijn aan de oren. De amplexus en ei-afzet vindt plaats in ondiepe poelen. De vrouwtjes leggen tot 700 eitjes die verdeeld worden in minstens twee tot zes strengen.[5]
Anaxyrus quercicus leeft in delen van Noord-Amerika en komt endemisch voor in de Verenigde Staten. De kikker is aangetroffen in de staten Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana en Virginia, en leeft uitsluitend in eikenbossen, waaraan de wetenschappelijke soortnaam te danken is; quercicus betekent eik.[6]
Larve
Seksuele dimorfie, mannetje links
Vooraanzicht.
De eikpad (Anaxyrus quercicus) is een kikker uit de familie padden (Bufonidae).
De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door John Edwards Holbrook in 1840. Oorspronkelijk werd de wetenschappelijke naam Bufo quercicus gebruikt, de soort behoorde later tot onder andere de geslachten Chilophryne en Incilius.
Ekpadda (Anaxyrus quercicus) är en nordamerikansk paddart i familjen äkta paddor. Den förekommer enbart i kustområden i sydöstra USA och är med sin längd av 19–33 mm den minsta paddan i Nordamerika.[2] Tidigare placerades den i släktet Bufo i undersläktet Anaxyrus, men idag har flertalet auktoriteter brutit ut Anaxyrus som ett eget släkte.
Ekpaddan är en mycket liten padda med en längd av 19–33 mm. Den räknas som Nordamerikas minsta padda. Ekpaddan har kort huvud med spetsig nos och gråsvart till brun rygg med mörkare fläckar och små, brunaktiga till orangeröda vårtor. Mitt på ryggen finns en ljusare längsgående strimma. Buken är gråvit utan fläckar, men även den har vårtor. Parotidkörtlarna är avlånga och droppformade. Honan är oftast större och har ljus strupe, medan hanens strupe är mörk.[2]
Ekpaddan förekommer i sydöstra USA:s kusttrakter från sydöstra Virginia till Florida. Västerut når den till Louisiana och Mississippifloden.[1]
Ekpaddan är solitär och dagaktiv, utom under parningstiden då de församlade paddorna även kan vara aktiva nattetid.[2] Den föredrar tall- och ekterräng, som trädbeväxta hedar, glesa skogar och savanner, gärna på sandjord. Kustnära skogar föredras också. Den gräver gärna ner sig eller gömmer sig under löv, flata stenar och dylikt.[1] Den kan bli åtminstone 4 år gammal.[3]
Ekpaddan lever främst på myror, men tar även skalbaggar, fjärilar, bladlöss, tvåvingar, gräshoppor, mångfotingar, klokrypare, spindlar och blötdjur. Ungdjuren tar hoppstjärtar, myror och små spindeldjur.[3]
Fortplantningen sker i grunda vattensamlingar, som dammar och diken mellan april till september eller oktober. Hanarna kommer först till lekplatserna och kallar på honorna med höga, kvittrande kväkningar. Honorna lägger mellan 100 och 250 ägg per tillfälle, i flera, sammanhängande strängar om 4 till 6 ägg vardera. Under en hel parningssäsong kan upp till 700 ägg läggas. Äggen kläcks efter omkring 3 dagar; ynglen är färdigutvecklade efter ungefär 2 månader.[2] Könsmognad sker vid omkring 1,5 – 2 års ålder.[3]
Ekpaddan är vanlig i hela sitt utbredningsområde.[1] Den förefaller ha minskat något på senare tid i Florida, men är fortfarande vanligt förekommande även där.[1] På grund av detta kategoriserar IUCN arten som livskraftig (LC).[1]
Wikimedia Commons har media som rör Ekpadda.
Wikispecies har information om Anaxyrus quercicus.
Ekpadda (Anaxyrus quercicus) är en nordamerikansk paddart i familjen äkta paddor. Den förekommer enbart i kustområden i sydöstra USA och är med sin längd av 19–33 mm den minsta paddan i Nordamerika. Tidigare placerades den i släktet Bufo i undersläktet Anaxyrus, men idag har flertalet auktoriteter brutit ut Anaxyrus som ett eget släkte.
Anaxyrus quercicus là một loài cóc thuộc họ Bufonidae. Đây là loài đặc hữu của the coastal regions of đông nam Hoa Kỳ.[1] Nó được coi là những loài cóc nhỏ nhất ở Bắc Mỹ, với chiều dài từ19 đến 33 mm (0,75 đến 1,30 in).[1]
Loài cóc này ăn thịt và chủ yếu ăn côn trùng. Môi trường sống tự nhiên của chúng là rừng ôn đới, vùng cây bụi ôn đới, hồ nước ngọt có nước theo mùa, đầm nước ngọt có nước theo mùa, đất canh tác, vùng đồng cỏ, ao, đất có tưới tiêu, và kênh đào và mương rãnh. Chúng hiện đang bị đe dọa vì mất môi trường sống.
Anaxyrus quercicus là một loài cóc thuộc họ Bufonidae. Đây là loài đặc hữu của the coastal regions of đông nam Hoa Kỳ. Nó được coi là những loài cóc nhỏ nhất ở Bắc Mỹ, với chiều dài từ19 đến 33 mm (0,75 đến 1,30 in).
