American spadefoot toads

family of amphibians
(Redirected from Scaphiopodidae)

An American spadefood toad is one of a family of toads known as Scaphiopodidae. They live in North America, in southern Canada and USA south to southern Mexico. Scaphiopodidae is a small family with only seven species.

American Spadefoot Toads
Western Spadefoot Toad (Spea hammondii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Family:
Scaphiopodidae

Cope, 1865
Genera

Scaphiopus
Spea

Distribution of Scaphiopodidae (in black)

The American spadefoot toads are of typical shape to most digging frogs. They are round, with short legs and eyes that stick out. This frog has a hard growth on their feet which helps them to dig. They dig backwards into the ground.[1]

The American spadefoot toads live on land when not under ground. They are dully coloured, usually a grey or dull green or brown. This is to help in camouflage.

References change

  1. "Scaphiopodidae (Cope, 1865) American Spadefoot Toads". Archived from the original on 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2006-05-12.

Other websites change

  Media related to Scaphiopodidae at Wikimedia Commons