Observações de yestuart

We found this toad near the fire pit/wood pile just outside the main lab building at Brackenridge Field Lab. It was under a cross-section of a stump which is likely used as a sitting stool.

When we flipped the stump, we found the toad buried in a recess in the soil under the stump. I'd guess that the toad burrowed under the stump and dug out the recess in which it was hidden.

Although it was 1pm and probably about 70degrees F when we found it, the toad was torpid; it was not moving, it did not move when we grabbed it, and it took several minutes in the sun for it to start moving. I'd guess it was still in its winter period of inactivity, waiting for daily temperatures to increase.

This toad had the clear light dorsal and mid-dorsal stripes of the Gulf Coast Toad, and the white stripe of the shoulder that Peterson Field Guide says points to as being a diagnostic character.

We entered the greenbelt at the Spyglass entrance near the Taco Deli and turned right, walking upstream.

We had been walking on the greenbelt since about 10am in the morning and hadn't seen any basking lizards. The morning was cloudy and it took until about 11 for the clouds to burn off fully and for the heat to start.

On our way back, heading downstream, we saw this lizard basking on a sunny rock within yards of the trail, on the northern side. The habitat was rocky, with a mixture of shrub and canopy trees. The sunspot was created by the trail. Barton Creek, which was flowing on account of recent rains, was about 10m away.

The lizard was keeping perfectly still with its eye towards the trail. It wasn't bothered by us stopping to observe it. Several hikers and runners went by and it remained nonplussed. It is likely quite habituated to humans. I'd guess it was just getting going for the day, basking to warm up.

This was a large individual, probably about 100mm SVL, and heavy - perhaps 15grams. It was grey, brown, and black with very spiny scales. It did not have the chevrons of the fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus).