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An actual native Florida toad! This is Anaxyrus quercicus, the oak toad. This tiny toad (about an inch long) is actually full grown — it is the smallest species of toad in North America. Oak toads usually have a distinct light stripe down their back, and if you look closely, you can see the undersides of this individual’s feet are bright yellow/orange. (It looks like it has a white belly, and is therefore a male. Females have darker, spotted undersides.)

Unlike most toads, oak toads are diurnal, which explains why this little fellow was out in my backyard, worrying my dog. These little guys live all over Florida, enjoying places with sandy soil, and eat ants, beetles, centipedes, spiders, and other critters. I welcome anything that eats mosquitoes!

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