Family: Leptodactylidae, Leptodactylid Frogs view all from this family

Description 2 1/2-3 3/4" (6.4-9.5 cm). Toad-shaped body, large head, and small truncated toe pads. Skin smooth; greenish to tan, with scattered dark spots. Dorsolateral skin folds on back; one fold across back of head, and one disk-shaped fold on belly.

Subspecies Four; 2 in our range:
Balcones (E. a. latrans), brown, with vague dark markings on hind legs; se. New Mexico to c. Texas and into adjacent Mexico.
Western (E. a. cactorum), gray to olive, with prominent markings on hind legs. Extreme s. Arizona south into Mexico.

Voice   A sharp throaty sound, like a dog's bark.

Breeding February to May, when rainfall is sufficient. Eggs are laid under rocks and logs in moist soil. Tadpole stages occur within eggs, which hatch as miniature frogs.

Habitat Damp limestone caves and crevices, especially where rain is frequent.

Range From se. New Mexico and c. Texas south to Tehuantepec, Mexico, thence north to extreme s. Arizona.

Discussion Nocturnal. It walks with the body held high off the ground. When threatened it inflates to several times its normal size. The skin fold on the belly may be useful in helping the frog cling to the sides of caves.