Ol' Rip the Horned Toad returned to the courthouse. Some speculated that the body in the coffin was a substitute, with the real lizard being held in a private collection. Looney Tunes character, Michigan J. Frog was inspired by Ol' Rip's story. Ol' Rip the Horned Toad Ol' Rip (died January 19, 1929) was a horned lizard (commonly referred to as a "horned toad" or "horny toad") whose supposed 31-year hibernation as an entombed animal is believed by some and doubted by others. His name is a reference to the fictional character Rip Van Winkle. In 1897, a horned lizard was placed in a cornerstone
American toad American toad The American toad ("Anaxyrus americanus") is a common species of toad found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. It is divided into three subspecies—the eastern American toad ("A. a. americanus"), the dwarf American toad ("A. a. charlesmithi"), and the rare Hudson Bay toad ("A. a. copei"). Recent taxonomic treatments place this species in the genus "Anaxyrus" instead of "Bufo". The eggs of the American toad are laid in two strings and can hatch in 2–14 days. When hatched the tadpoles are recognizable by their skinny tails in relation to the size of their black bodies. They may