My friend Roger Repp of the Tucson Herpetological Society calls these "junk toads" because they are so common in the area. But heck, I'd never encountered them before, and they look like little space aliens, so I think they're great. Like most of the toads that live in southern Arizona's hot desert, these guys are mostly seen only in the late summer monsoon season, when this part of Arizona gets most of its rainfall.

I saw these three and several others driving around at night. The lighter individuals at top are male; the darker individual at bottom is a female. The bottom two toads are both topped with fine red dust, showing that they spent their day buried in the desert sand.

The reticulated pattern of darker and lighter areas mark this spadefoot as a female. Males have little or no pattern.

I have not yet gotten bored of these colorful and wide-eyed creatures, despite how common they are.

These guys are just so goofy and improbable, especially in the middle of the desert. You gotta love 'em.

A few more from across the state line the next evening. Road-cruising for snakes at night is more fun when you can always stop for a funny-looking toad or three.

Just one more picture, I can't resist!

Couch's Spadefoot ranges down throughout most of Sonora, and are just as cute down there as they are up in Arizona.

You might think this gal is unhappy, but she always looks like that.

Adorable little space aliens.