please help me identify this frog/toad!

Cuba* · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 07:50 AM

I found a toad on a quiet road yesterday and he looked a little worse for wear (was v inactive and possibly injured but i couldnt see any obvious wounds). The thing is, he looked nothing like any picture of any native toad I can find. I am having trouble uploading the photo so hopefully this description will be enough!
Firstly he was very big, about the size of my hand (body was about the size of a ladies palm)
He was yellow, but not bright yellow, more like the colour of leaves in the autumn, with small brown blotches and pink feet. the brown blotches formed two stripes down his back too.
He was laying strangely flat (a bit like a spatchcock chicken!) rather than in jump position, but this may have been due to an injury? I hope not

and his body was really round and bulbous, not like any toad ive ever seen...
Any ideas? I'll keep trying to upload the pic as I'm sure that would be more helpful! I put him in a field under some wet leaves so he didnt dry out or get dehydrated but now think I should have taken him to the vet, as he may well have been something unusual...
Thanks chaps

Cuba* · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 07:55 AM

Here is a picture of the toad

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 07:59 AM

Hi Cuba* and welcome to WAB. I've just hastily ammended this post as I see your image has appeared - well done.

The unfortunate amphibian appears to me to be a common frog in a rather bloated state, bacterial infection could be the cause. Sorry, I've no real idea what the cause maybe, there are some good frogfanciers on WAB and as they say, "One should be along soon."

Take the pic was taken in the UK?

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 08:48 AM

Its a common frog and they do blow themselves up like this when threatened so you might have just missed a hedgehog or fox having a go at it - or it may have felt theatened by you even. They also come a in a crazy variety of colours too. Don't worry you did the right thing.

The Woodman · #5 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Its a common frog and they do blow themselves up like this when threatened so you might have just missed a hedgehog or fox having a go at it - or it may have felt theatened by you even.

Good point Gill.

Cuba* · #6 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 11:23 AM

Oh jolly good, thanks guys! There were 3 people gawping at him and wondering how to move him without hurting him so he might well have inflated because of us! Are you sure he was a common frog? I know nothing at all about frogs but he was seriously chunky! I guess that will be the bloating... very impressive! Well I hope hes ok now, I daren't check back to see if hes moved! Thanks again

Cuba* · #7 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 11:25 AM

and yes, it was in the UK, in Glasgow to be precise

I guess the weird hurricane weather weve been having lately brought him out!

Gill Catton · #8 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 12:35 PM

yes deffo common frog, the smooth shiney skin and big flappy rear feet make it a frog and the dark mask around the eye and shape of the head makes it a common frog.

Dogghound · #9 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 01:02 PM

It doesnt look healthy to me. The behaviour doesnt sound good either. Usually when a frog is threatened by a predator it depresses its body and blows up slightly, this looks heavily bloated.

I suspect it is a bacterial infection, this would explain why the frog was laying flat with its legs trailing. It looks a lot like dropsy to me.

Gill Catton · #10 (**permalink**) 15-09-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

It doesnt look healthy to me. The behaviour doesnt sound good either. Usually when a frog is threatened by a predator it depresses its body and blows up slightly, this looks heavily bloated.

I suspect it is a bacterial infection, this would explain why the frog was laying flat with its legs trailing. It looks a lot like dropsy to me.

I have rescued frogs being harassed by my cat (It didn't hurt the frog was seemingly just fascinated/ revolted by it) and it did look just like this and was reluctant to move even with legs in peculiar positions. - Though I have to say I'm not an expert in frog illness!