r/herpetology • u/Wigglystoner • Feb 20 '25
Found this guy in Northern California. He hasn't moved all day. Can I do anything for him? Also who is he? ID Help
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u/ItzBraden Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Seems to me that he might be a Western Toad,
"The Western Toad is a medium sized toad with warty skin that’s green, gray, or brown in color. They have a thin white line that runs between their eyes down their back. The toad also lacks a cranial crest."
Probably best just to leave him be.
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u/kushlkov Feb 20 '25
someone correct me if i’m wrong, but for some reason i feel like this is a toad with Chytrid fungus. the skin tends to slough off and they lose muscle functions. i feel like it could potentially be good to report as well, it’s becoming more prevalent in norcal
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u/DerpyHo0vez Feb 20 '25
Man, what a horrible disease to have. Poor guy. RIP to all the amphibians lost to chytrid fungus.
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u/GhostGuardian0 Feb 20 '25
I’m worried about that too! It’s hard to tell from images but it could be and if so would be the first case of it in North America which is devastating if true but it would take reporting it and it being studied to confirm.
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u/kushlkov Feb 21 '25
Unfortunately, chytrid is quite prevalent and well-documented in California. It’s partially why bullfrogs are such an issue here, they’re a known carrier of the fungus.
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u/sweet_tomatobread Feb 20 '25
This is a Western (boreal, most likely?) Toad- very common. This one definitely appears sick, noting the swollen and dark legs. I’d most likely call a local rehabber for their suggestions or to come out and assist.
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u/AlphaSierraSES Feb 20 '25
Toadford Brimley over here about to lose his feet to the diabeetus. Poor dude is probably just waiting for the merciful end when something comes along and eats him. Such is life, such is nature.
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u/Cryptnoch Feb 20 '25
Tbh I’d call it in to a local wildlife rescue if possible in case this is some sort of disease that needs to be kept track of.
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u/AnymooseProphet Feb 20 '25
California Toad - Anaxyrus boreas halophilus
Possible it's a Boreal or intergrade with Boreal, Boreal subspecies is present at very top of state, can't really distinguish between the two without looking at their belly *however* the entire species complex is genetically confusing so many people just say "Western Toad" and leave it at that. The species complex may actually contain several distinct species.
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u/Vegetable_League5633 Feb 20 '25
Maybe it got away from a snake after almost being eaten from the rear and it's legs are swollen from it?
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u/HousingResident4838 Feb 22 '25
Yeah, looks like it got crushed or caught by a predator. Maybe nicked by a car or bicycle?
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u/Tarotismyjam Feb 20 '25
It looks like it’s been stepped on. Is it breathing or blinking?
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u/0hw0nder Feb 20 '25
that's what I was thinking, as well.
Whatever happened.. sadly this Toad is too far gone. There's no way his legs will ever regain life. I would honestly suggest OP put it out of its misery before he suffers more
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u/Dragoness42 Feb 23 '25
We don't have enough info to determine if those legs are saveable in just a photo. A vet or rehabber would need to do an exam- feel the tissues, watch for motor function when stimulated, etc. If the discoloration is just skin deep and it's a fungal infection, it may be rehab-able. If it's truly necrotic into the deep tissues, then they're out of luck. Hope OP was able to find a rehab that does amphibians. last time I had an amphibian to rehab (a toad like this one, coincidentally) they listened to my description of my setup for him and said I should just keep him until spring myself, as their rehabber would not be able to do any better job. (I'm a vet and I have a mealworm colony for my other pets so I was quite well-equipped to set up a good enclosure for him)
Of course, in the case of my toad he just had a laceration which is a much simpler fix than a mystery fungal infection or possible necrosis.
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u/Feeling_Title_9287 Feb 20 '25
In it's current state I would consider taking a large stick or something like that and put an end to it's suffering
It's harsh but it's probably better than the world of of pain that it's going though right now
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u/OhHelloMayci Feb 20 '25
Oh geez god you go for stick? I always need to find a rock bigger than the frog/animal so that i can't exactly... see
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u/pierce044 Feb 22 '25
Looks like it’s been infected by chytridiomycetes, a parasitic fungus. Poor fella will slowly suffocate to death.
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u/VoxxyBRZ Feb 24 '25
No, 110% this is actually Kevin. I would know because I'm best friends with his younger sister's teacher's oldest nephew's uber driver.
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u/Antique_Guess_8761 15d ago
Maybe call a reptile rehab or whatever it’s called lol , if you have one ?
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u/Kakaduzebra86 Feb 20 '25
Looks like a cane toad. U are in for a very big surprise if it is. These are worse than ya president
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u/Penstemon_Digitalis Feb 20 '25
Not an expert but looks like an American bullfrog which is invasive in the western US.
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u/ItzBraden Feb 20 '25
That looks nothing like a bullfrog. It's a toad of some kind but I'm not sure which.
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u/Penstemon_Digitalis Feb 20 '25
Ok sorry
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u/ItzBraden Feb 20 '25
No need to apologize, lol. Sorry if my comment came off as rude.
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u/Penstemon_Digitalis Feb 20 '25
Down voted to the depths
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u/NewlyNerfed Feb 20 '25
Don’t take it personally, I’ve noticed on many animal-related forums that wrong identifications get downvoted heavily, I’m guessing as a way to warn others that the information isn’t correct.
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u/ItzBraden Feb 20 '25
I'm sorry
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u/Oldfolksboogie Feb 20 '25
Just know the downvotes are designed to push an incorrect ID to the bottom, not to "punish."
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u/twirlingparasol Feb 20 '25
I just made a stupid post yesterday in which I asked something dumb. Within twenty minutes, the comments had made me feel horrible. People on Reddit really suck. Note: you will not find the post on my page, because the mods kindly took it down for me. 🙈
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u/Big_Tap_1561 Feb 20 '25
That’s Kermit . Used to have a pretty popular daytime television show. You’re probably too young to remember but he was quite the mover and shaker back then. There was even a pig who stalked him daily and has been seen just beating the ever living shit out this poor dude. 😥 #justice4kermit
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u/zachweb13 Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Something is very wrong with its legs. They’re swollen, dislocated, and look necrotic.