Hidden hopper: Time for a crazy-making game of 'spot the toad'

Crazy camouflage comes in all sorts of forms, and we never tire of scouring cryptic photographs for undercover wildlife, whether it's snow leopards or snakes. Our latest covert creature was spotted by entomologist Aaron Pomertantz in the rainforests of Tambopata, Peru.

Image: Aaron Pomerantz

Here's a clue: you're looking for a South American common toad (also known in Spanish as a crested toad, "sapo crestado"). Rhinella margaritifera was originally thought to be a single species, but today, scientists consider it a species complex – that means they use the same name to refer to multiple, closely related animals. The trouble is, it's nearly impossible to differentiate these amphibians by appearance alone, so genetic testing is needed to reveal any cryptic species that may be lurking under this biological umbrella. Scientists have begun unraveling that mystery – 17 species have been identified so far! – but the jury's still out on the group's final tally.

What we do know, though, is that its members are incredible leaf mimics. And like many of their amphibious kin, they're nocturnal, which makes spotting one during the day all the more challenging.

"This little guy was spotted during an afternoon hike near the Tambopata Research Center," explains Pomerantz. "And as one can see, they are very good at camouflaging with the foliage!"

Before we torture you with more infuriating images, here's a video clip to get your eyes acclimated. (The toad is located in a different spot here than in the photos – so don't focus on placement!)

Can you spot the crested toad? Go ahead, I'll wait... #tambopataresearchcenter pic.twitter.com/SpMEuAk8f2
— Aaron Pomerantz (@AaronPomerantz) August 31, 2017

Native to the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, Suriname and parts of Panama, South American common toads are most often encountered in lowland or mountain forests. This biodiverse corner of the globe is home to a plethora of predators, so for the toads, being able to blend in is a matter of life or death.

"I only noticed this one because he hopped as I was walking nearby," says Pomerantz. "But when he was still it took some adjusting to finally spot him again."

(Scroll past each image for its reveal).