When you are face-to-face with this toad, you might notice that he has a few skin issues, but when you see him from the side, you realize that he has a serious problem that anti-acne cream surely will not cure.
I don’t often see toads at my local marshland park, so I couldn’t help but move in for a closer look when I spotted this one last weekend. At the park, we have both Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) and Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) and I have trouble telling them apart. To make matters worse, according to the Virginia Herpetological Society, these species hybridize, “making identification difficult.”
I was pretty amazed when I looked at my shots to see all of the different textures and patterns on the toad’s body body. There are warts and weaves and different kinds of stripes. I’m happy too that I was able to capture the toad’s toes, which most often are hidden.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That is a lot of skin issues but makes for an interesting texture.
Thanks, Lyle. The texture of the toad grabbed my attention, though I did not return the favor with it. It’s probably an old wives’ tale that you get warts from handling frogs and toads, but you never know for sure, so it’s best to look, but not touch.
Wonderful portraits! The detail of your images is, as always, incredible. Every single point in that second shot is tack sharp, from the toad’s eye to his toes and all that amazing texture in between. I had not thought about it until now but my kids and I have not encountered as many frogs and toads as we would have expected in our wanderings.
Thanks, Laura. I think I was pushing the envelope with the first shot by trying to get so close. The shutter speed dropped and there was very little depth of field, so it was pretty soft. I don’t see very many toads, but see a pretty good number of frogs (and hear a whole lot more of them at the marsh where I spend a lot of my time).
There’s one particular pond we go to where we are guaranteed to see amphibians but it just struck me as odd that they don’t cross our path more often.
Also I liked the softness in the first photograph. It helped focus the eye on the toad’s eyes.
Can’t say I like those beasties but have to admit they are interesting in a worty kind if way! Great clarity in the second shot in particular, Mike.
Thanks, Chris. The first shot was a little blurry, but I really liked the perspective. The second shot definitely highlights the “beauty” of the skin. 🙂
I’ve seen more toads this summer than I ever have, which is strange since we’re in a drought. None of them would hold still though, so congratulations on meeting some that were willing to pose.
I must have been in stealth mode, Allen. It seems like individual birds and animals and even amphibians have differing levels of tolerance for human presence. Some seem willing to let me get close, while others flee as soon as they become aware of my presence.