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KEY CHARACTERISTICS: "Spade" on each hind foot, vertical pupils, no parotoid glands, teeth in upper jaw, relatively smooth skin.
Scaphiopus bomifrons (Plains Spadefoot) |
Scaphiopus intermontanus (Great Basin Spadefoot) |
Scaphiopus mulitiplatus (Southern Spadefoot) |
The spadefoot toads inhabit arid regions of North America. They are named after the horny, dark, sharp-edged "spade" like tubercle found on each hind foot. The spade is used to excavate daytime burrows. They also have short snouts, vertical pupils, relatively smooth skin, teeth in upper jaw and no parotoid glands; characteristics which help distinguish them from the true toads (Family Bufonidae). Another difference is amplexus; it is pelvic spadefoot toads and pectoral in true toads. Most spadefoots have a boss between the eyes. Spadefoot toads have accelerated development; with egg deposition to toad metamorphosis occurring in as little as two weeks. This adaptation helps species survival in the arid environment in which they are found.
OTHER FAMILY PAGES:
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(Mole Salamanders) |
(Tailed Frog) |
(Spadefoot Toads) |
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(True Toads) |
(Tree Frogs) |
(True Frogs) |
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Forest Service
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Building
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