Rich Peet wrote:
> Can we agree it is a Toad?
> Can we agree that it has more in common with Eastern Narrowmouth than
> most?
No I know it's none of Georgia's true toads. There are three species
that could be found in that area, one of which was calling that night,
the Southern Toad. I got close enough and saw well enough where several
were calling to have seen any of those species easily, it's smaller for
sure. And their calls are way different. It slightly resembles the calls
of spadefoots, but our one spadefoot is much larger, and not
particularly wary.
I had another time I recorded this. Two years ago and one county NW of
this site. One individual, which we did write off as a defective
narrowmouth. I went back tonight and hunted up the listing in my
database and had a listen, same thing. Recorded with the Telinga instead
of the SASS, so is a little stronger recording. I did a sonogram as
well, and have put that up for John Jensen (he already has that
recording). The link is:
http://wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/2001A06-04.jpg
They do choose about the same sort of calling locations as narrowmouths.
Just a little thicker cover.
They are more wary than narrowmouths. I can fairly easily walk up to a
narrowmouth and watch it calling once I spot it. These guys would start
shutting off with very careful approach when within 6'. I did get within
2' a couple times by lots of moving small amounts and waiting for them
to resume calling. One of those times I saw a flash of movement,
impression was it's dark brown in general color. But I did not get
enough to get shape, except it was consistent with frog shape and the
right speed range. It did not hop away, at least not a high hop.
They also don't call in connection with the narrowmouth pattern around
them. And in no case was a narrowmouth call issued from exactly where I
heard them. Probably no closer than 6". Eastern Narrowmouths are very
definitely ones that respond to each other's calls. A group has waves of
calls travelling through it.
There are no known close relatives to the Eastern Narrowmouth in our
area. Though I'm certainly not ruling out a relative, mutant, or such
like. Having spent several hours listening to them, I do think I can
rule out these being Eastern Narrowmouths. I cannot see a defective one
in such numbers in two locations either. Not that would all be defective
in voice in exactly the same way.
Note I'm not even willing to guarantee it's a frog. Until I can catch
one. Sure sounds like one, behaves like one, and the sonographic pattern
is consistent with frogcall patterns.
Soonest John Jensen's bunch will hear it is tomorrow. I don't know if he
will be in the office or not. He's one of the top frocall experts down
here, and I expect will drag in all the others unless he recognizes it
right off.
Walt
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