Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Gastrophryne carolinensis — Microhylidae
0.9–1.25 inches
How to identify
- Small, plump body with a tiny, pointed head
- Fold of skin across back of head just behind the eyes
- Gray, brown, or olive above with darker sides
- No obvious neck — head appears to blend into body
- Small size, under 1.25 inches
About this species
One of Virginia's most unusual-looking amphibians, the eastern narrow-mouthed toad has a tiny, pointed head, a plump body, and a fold of skin across the back of the head. Despite its name, it is not closely related to true toads. They are secretive and fossorial, spending most of their time under logs, rocks, and debris. Their call sounds like an electric buzz or the bleating of a sheep.
Often confused with
Did you know
"Eastern narrow-mouthed toads have a unique relationship with eastern hog-nosed snakes — they shelter near or even inside the snakes' burrows, apparently immune to predation, possibly because their skin secretions are distasteful to the snake."
Sightings & citizen science
Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.
View Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad observations on iNaturalist ↗If you've found an injured or displaced Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.