(Plains Spadefoot)
|
(Plains Spadefoot) |
| COMMON NAME: Plains Spadefoot
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Scaphiopus bombifrons
STATUS: Federal- No status; States-
No status
RANKING: Global- Secure; States- Not
provided
FOREST PRESENT:
|
 |
DESCRIPTION: The Plains Spadefoot
is small and pug shaped, reaching about 2 1/2 inches in length. It
has a raised and bony boss between the eyes. The dorsal surface is
usually a gray or brown color and flecked with yellow or orange tinged
tubercles. Four light-colored stripes are normally present on the
back. They maybe barely discernible. The ventral surface is
white, and the skin is moist
LIFE HISTORY: The Plain Spadefoot
inhabits semi-arid to arid plains, hills, flood plains, and shrub lands
in extreme Southeastern Utah. In the Intermountain Region, the only
forest the species may occur is the Manti- La Sal. The Plains Spadefoot
prefers loose soil that it can burrow underground in when inactive.
It also occupies rodent burrows. It has been found up to 8,000 feet
in elevation. Adults are mostly nocturnal but diurnal activity is
common during breeding.
BREEDING: Breeding occurs during the
summer, in temporary pools and flooded areas after rainfall. They
breed in some permanent waters where the water level fluctuates widely.
The eggs are pigmented and laid in loose, small diameter cylindrical masses
of up to 250 eggs each. The eggs are attaches to vegetation or other
objects in the water.
DIET: Larvae eat suspended matter,
organic debris, algae and plant tissue. They may also ingest aquatic
invertebrates and amphibian larvae. Adults eat a variety of small
terrestrial arthropods.
VOICE: A short (1/2 to 3/4 second)
duck like bleat. The Plains Spadefoot call is less vibratory than
Southern Spadefoots. It calls mainly at night.
USDA,
Forest Service
Federal
Building
324
25th Street
Ogden,
Utah 84401