a small, terrestrial frog that feeds on a variety of insects and other small invertebrates. Its diet consists primarily of ants, beetles, and spiders, as well as other insects and arthropods. The oak toad spends much of its time foraging for food, using its long, sticky tongue to capture prey. The oak toad eats mainly small insects and other arthropods. The adult has a strong preference for ants. Life cycle Eggs develop quickly, hatching in a mere 24 to 36 hours. The tadpole reaches a maximum length of . It is grayish olive or grape-green dorsally and purplish ventrally. The tail has 6 or 7 black saddle marks. The tadpole completes metamorphosis into a juvenile toadlet in 4 to 6 weeks, and it reaches adulthood and sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2.3 years of age. The length of the lifespan is unclear. There are records of specimens living for four years in captivity, and the reported average lifespan in captivity is 1.9 years. Predation The primary predators of the oak toad are snakes, particularly hognosed snakes, which are specialized for eating toads. Other predators include garter snakes and gopher frogs. As with many bufonids, the oak toad inflates its body in unkenreflex when confronted by a potential predator. It secretes toxins from its parotoid glands and urinates when threatened. The male may chirp as a response to predators. Eggs also appear to have some toxic properties. References Further reading Anaxyrus quercicus. AmphibiaWeb. Anaxyrus Fauna of the Southeastern United States Amphibians of the United States Endemic fauna of the United States Amphibians described in 1840 Taxa named by John Edwards Holbrook Taxonomy articles created by Polbot