Toad Lubber

Image: Greg Lasley

It's the stone golem of grasshoppers!

Toad Lubbers are beefy grasshoppers from the Romaleidae family, also known as Lubbers. Lubbers are often large and robust...

Image: Lon&Queta
Chihuahua Toad Lubber (Phrynotettix tsichivavensis)

But few are as chunky as the Toad Lubber!

Behind their head is an uncommonly massive hunk of exoskeleton called the pronotum and beyond that some wings that are too small for flight.

Image: CARLOS VELAZCO
Robust Toad Lubber (Phrynotettix robustus)

Toad Lubbers reach about 2 to 5 cm (1 or 2 inches) long, females larger than males, and are a lot shorter and wider than the usual grasshopper.

They look like a stone lying in the dry desert areas of Mexico and southern United States. They are of course surrounded by actual stones, so they melt away into the background very effectively.

Image: Lon&Queta

If you do manage to spot one, you'll notice it looks a lot like a toad when viewed from above. A slow, lumbering toad in thick armour.

All we need now is a toad thief and a toad mage and we can gather our party before venturing forth into the dungeons and catacombs of a local ant hill.

Adventure awaits!

.....

Big thanks to James for introducing me to this one!