Plains Spadefoot
Plains Toad, Great Plains Spadefoot, Western Spadefoot.
Spea bombifrons
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The Plains Spadefoot Frog, scientifically known as Spea bombifrons, is a remarkable amphibian found in the Great Plains region of North America. With its unique adaptations and behaviors, this frog has become well-suited to surviving in arid and semi-arid environments. It features a plump body with rough, warty skin and distinctive spade-shaped projections on its hind feet. These frogs are known for their nocturnalAnimals that are active during the night and rest during the day. Beavers are primarily nocturnal, doing most of their work at night. Learn More habits, spending the day buried underground and emerging at night to feed on insects. During breeding season, they gather in temporary ponds to mate and lay eggs. With their specialized skin glands, they can secrete‘Secreting’ means that something is being produced and released by an organism. Think about how your body produces tears when you cry or how your nose can produce mucus when you have a cold. Those are examples of secreting. Your body is making and releasing those substances. Learn More toxic substances as a defense mechanism against predators.
Plains Spadefoot
Common Name
Plains Spadefoot
Other Names
Plains Toad, Great Plains Spadefoot, Western Spadefoot.
Latin Name
Spea bombifrons
Distribution
AB, SK, MB
Appearance
These frogs have a plump body with rough, warty skin that helps them retain moisture. They come in various shades of brown, gray, or olive, often with dark blotches or markings. They have prominent eyes with vertical pupils and a distinctive spade-shaped projection on each hind foot, which they use for digging.
Size
Plains Spadefoot Frogs range in size from 1.5 to 3.5 inches (3.8 to 8.9 cm) in length. Females are typically larger than males.
Habitat
They inhabit a variety of habitats, including grasslands, prairies, deserts, and sandy areas. They have a preference for areas with loose, sandy or clay soils that are conducive to burrowing.
Behavior
Plains Spadefoot Frogs are primarily nocturnal, spending their days buried in the ground to escape the heat and dry conditions. They are excellent burrowers and use their specialized hind feet to dig into the soil, creating tunnels where they find refuge and protection. During heavy rains, they emerge from their burrows to breed in temporary ponds or wetlands.
Diet
Their diet consists mainly of insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and other small invertebrates. They are sit-and-wait predators, capturing their prey with their sticky tongues.
Lifecycle
Plains Spadefoot Frogs undergo a remarkable lifecycle. After heavy rains, they gather in breeding ponds to mate. Females lay their eggs in the water, and the eggs hatch into tadpoles. These tadpoles develop quickly, undergoing metamorphosis within a few weeks. Once they transition into froglets, they leave the water and begin their terrestrial life.
Vocalization
Plains Spadefoot Frogs produce a distinctive call that sounds like a short, harsh croak or “waaah.” Males typically call from the breeding ponds to attract females during the breeding season.
Defense Mechanisms
When threatened, Plains Spadefoot Frogs can employ various defense mechanisms. They have specialized skin glands that can secrete toxic substances, making them unpalatable to predators. They may also inflate their bodies or emit a high-pitched distress call to deter predators and signal potential danger.
Ecological Importance
Plains Spadefoot Frogs play an essential role in their ecosystemsAn ecosystem is a community of living organisms, like insects and birds, and non-living components, like water and rocks, that interact with each other in a specific area. Learn More. As predators, they help control insect populations, contributing to the balance of local ecosystems. They are also an important food source for other animals, including birds and snakes.
ConservationThe act of protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment. Conservation efforts are important to protect beavers and their habitats. Learn More Status
The conservation status of Plains Spadefoot Frogs varies across their range. In some areas, they are considered a species of least concern, while in others, habitat loss and degradation pose significant threats to their populations.
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