Scaphiopodidae Archives

Scaphiopodidae - American Spadefoot Toads

There are seven species in this family. American spadefoot toads are found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

There is a separate family of spadefoot toads found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, Pelobatidae, that shares many of the same characteristics of American spadefoot toads.

Spadefoot toads get their name from the hard, sharp, bony “spade” on their hind feet that they use to dig burrows.

Spadefoots have round, stocky bodies; short, rounded snouts; large, bulging eyes; and smooth skin. Spadefoots also have vertical pupils in their eyes. Other toad and frog species have horizontal pupils.

EASTERN SPADEFOOT TOAD

In North America, the eastern spadefoot toad is the only spadefoot found east of the Mississippi River. It is found from southern New England south to Florida and west to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The eastern spadefoot toad is 2-3 inches in length and has a stocky body and bulging eyes with vertical pupils. It is olive-green, brown, or black in color and may have two light yellow lines running from its eyes down its back.

It eats beetles, spiders, crickets, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. It is found in forested areas, brushy areas, or cultivated fields.

Couch's Spadefoot Toad
(Scaphiopus couchii)

Couch's spadefoot stays buried in the soil for 8-10 months of the year. They are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Eastern Spadefoot
(Scaphiopus holbrookii)

The eastern spadefoot is found from southern New England to Florida. It spends most of its time buried in the soil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Hurter’s Spadefoot
(Scaphiopus hurterii)

Hurter's spadefoot is found in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Plains Spadefoot
(Spea bombifrons)

The plains spadefoot is found from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada south to the panhandle and lower tip of Texas, and into northern Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Western Spadefoot
(Spea hammondii)

The western spadefoot is found from California to Baja, California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
Great Basin Spadefoot
(Spea intermontana)

The Great Basin spadefoot is found from south-central British Columbia , Canada, south into the United States from eastern Washington, Oregon, and California through Nevada and Utah, into southern Idaho, northwestern Colorado, and southwestern Wyoming. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
New Mexico Spadefoot
(Spea multiplicata)

The New Mexico spadefoot is found in Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Oklahoma. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern