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CSI: Toad
March 15th, 2010 | 
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I have to admit that I’ve struggled with myself over whether or not to write about this series of photos. This look at the crumpled remains of a frog is kind of gross…but so very fascinating! Whatever animal had this toad for dinner left behind the skin, part of the spinal column, and other tissue that I cannot name. As for the toad ID…well, we all love a good mystery!
So, here we go…
This is what I saw when I walked out my side door onto the driveway one morning back in October. At a glance, it was odd enough to warrant closer inspection. When I realized this was a mostly inside-out skin of a toad – I heard myself say, “Eewww,” even as I started snapping pictures.
This is a closeup of “View One.” I can clearly see on its feet three – maybe four – toes. To the right of the foot, I think we’re looking at the underside of the skin that used to be the face. Is that en eyelid? It’s been a really long time since frog dissections in school – and I don’t think we ever looked at ‘em quite like this.
I circled the toad as if it were a crime scene, taking photos from every angle. I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing this may be a Texas Toad (Bufo speciosus) or a Woodhouse’s Toad (Bufo woodhousii). There was no ID on the body [smirk].
This is obviously a front leg here, and the relatively un-mottled, smooth skin is probably the throat and stomach. I think we are actually looking at the toad’s mouth – open at 180° – with the chin side to the left and the face side to the right. Suddenly the cookies I’m snacking on are less appealing.
This is where it gets really interesting, as we can see part of the spinal column. We can also see that the toad has 4 toes for sure.
The perpetrator’s modus operandi included taking the head in its mouth, breaking the neck, and stripping the skin right off. That’s my theory, anyway. I know that we have possums around my house – and I tried to find out if possums eat toads…but couldn’t come up with anything definitive. I think it’s safe to say that a possum could definitely have done this. Whomever the predator was, I wonder if she meant to leave this part of the toad behind? I’m just sayin’ - there are some perfectly good pieces of bone, gristle, and warty skin!
Did any of you notice this snail in any of the other pictures? He is just barely visible in the first two views, but if you look closely, you will be able to see his tentacles. Actually, I should call the snail Mr. Miss because snails have both male and female parts (they still have to mate). I haven’t been able to ID this snail yet, but I think we can safely assume that it is a detritivore (eats dead plants or animals).
That’s it for this episode of CSI: Toad. Hope you’ve enjoyed it!
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That is so cool, even if it’s a little creepy, and I’m glad you posted the photos. I kinda figure that anyone visiting a nature blog should be prepared for some real nature. If you can’t stand the gross stuff, you’d better stick with something safer, like scrapbooking. That is a very cleanly “cleaned” skin. I can’t say what could have eaten the toad, but my guess is a critter with a long narrow mouth and sharp, nipping front teeth.
I’m glad you think nature-blog readers can handle this – I was hoping so. Just last night my dog was barking, at something that was growling back at her. I got my flashlight and saw that it was a smallish possum! I’m sticking with possum as the frog-eater who doesn’t like the skin.
After initially vomiting in my mouth a little, I began to thoroughly enjoy your crime scene analysis. I think all of the circumstantial evidence points to your neighbor, “Mr. Green Thumb.” Remember when he expressed a nostalgic fondness for the frog soup he had as a child? (Let me know if you need me to play “bad cop” during the interrogation.)
You made me laugh out loud and I’m still giggling. And it’s “Mr. Green Thumbs” (plural).
That is one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. It looks like a popped balloon.
That’s a good way of describing it!
Absolutely fascinating. Great find, Amber!
Were I to guess, I’d say the perpetrator was a bird. Snakes would swallow it whole. Mammals would tend to bite off chunks–if they got past the chemical defenses in the skin. But birds are known to flip toads and eat them from the belly in without consuming the skin and bones (the chickens at our family farm in East Texas do this if they can catch one). I’m guessing, of course, but it sure looks like avian handiwork.
And I laughed about you saying “eewww” even as you started snapping photos. A girl after my own heart!
I guess we can’t know for sure…but what happened to it’s head?
I agree with Jason about it being a bird, which also seem less bothered by noxious chemicals than mammals. Perhaps it was already dead, and a crow came along and held it down with its foot and pulled it inside out with its beak.
Yes, true naturalists love a good nature mystery.
Ted, you and Jason have both indicated that the perp may have been a bird. I guess the opinion of two excellent detectives such as yourselves will be the closest we get to solving this case.
I love the juxtaposition of ‘Eewww’ and snapping photos
However
1. How about preserving the crime scene? Eating cookies and dropping crumbs to contaminate it
2. I would challenge you to justify your assumption that the predator was a female as in … wonder if ‘she’ meant …
Great post!
Hi Joan!
I still wouldn’t recommend it though.
Let me clarify about the cookies – I was eating them while writing about the crime scene – not while AT the crime scene.
Hey, you’re right…I did say “she.” Hmmmm. Glad you like the post!
whoa! that’s pretty gnarly stuff. I’m glad you posted it , kinda gross, sure, but definitely interesting. Nice investigation work, I’m impressed!
It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! I even showed my mom, who happened to be visiting. She said “eewww” too.
I’m guessing the murderer is a raccoon. Very few critters can eat our local California newt because it is toxic. The lovely San Francisco gartersnake has developed tolerance of the toxin. However, we have reports that raccoons flip the newts over, slit their bellies and suck out the flesh sans toxin-laden skin.
Ok, 1 for a raccoon! Now we’re cookin’. I haven’t seen raccoons around – but that doesn’t mean they are not out there. I’ll keep an eye out for those bandits.
I must admit that I never knew a blog post about a mutilated toad carcass could be so interesting. I vote that you round up the usual avian suspects and submit them to intense interrogation.
Hi Marvin – it may be too late to round up the avian suspects, but I’ll be watching for more of these shenanigans!
Amber, I LOVE this post. Completely fascinating. I also love the speculation, begun in the post and continued in the comments about the identity of the perp. I have no opinion, as I don’t know anything about toad toxins, but I will say that I think raccoons are capable of just about any crime. My own recent odd find: a small, very scraggly raccoon TAIL, with bones, on Riverside Drive in the middle of Manhattan. Strange doings, indeed.
Hi, Out Walking – this was a fun post to write. I agree, the mystery-solving process via the comments has been great as well. Hard to resist a good mystery!
My guess about the small, bony raccoon tail – giant rats. Ya think?
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fascinating! loved reading through!
Hi arati – thanks for visiting. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this.