Hurter's Spadefoot

Scaphiopus hurterii

Reptiles & AmphibiansIn the app

The hunter’s spadefoot toad- Scaphiopus Hurteri is characterized with being about 2-3 inches in length and having eyes with vertical pupils, stocky bodies, no parotoid gl…

How to identify

The hunter’s spadefoot toad- Scaphiopus Hurteri is characterized with being about 2-3 inches in length and having eyes with vertical pupils, stocky bodies, no parotoid gland, and relatively smooth skin. Its most distinctive feature however, is a spade-like projection on its hind feet, from which its common name is derived. This projection enables the spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease.

Range

These species of Hunter’s spadefoot toad are found in the south-central United States; the region of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Their range might extend to the adjacent northern Mexico.

Habitat

This species are found mostly in sandy or gravelly areas or soft and light soils in Savanna regions as well as in mesquite scrub. Because the Scaphiopus Hurteri are nocturnal amphibians, they are hardly seen when there hasn't been recent rainfall and spend a large part of the day buried underground during dry season. They feed on invertebrates whenever it rains and breed in ephemeral pools. Eggs laid by female toads hatch within a day or two which makes them have one of the fastest reproductive cycles of any species belonging to the same class. The tadpoles soon develop to froglets in a couple of weeks due to the fact that most of their breeding areas dry quickly once the rainy season is over.

Similar species

Scaphiopus Holbrooki or the Eastern spadefoot toad is similar species found all along the East Coast of The United States, from Southern New England to Florida. They can grow up to 3 inches long. Spea bombifrons or the Plain spadefoot toad possess a spade-like projection on its hind legs that enables them to dig into Sandy soils. They grow 1.5-2.5 inches in length, with short legs and a round body. Their skin color ranges from tannish to dark-brown with conspicuous orange spots making them easily recognizable. Some have light stripes on their backs. Spea hammondii or Western Spadefoot toad is another similar species with pale gold eyes and vertical pulpils. Their dorsum is usually green or grey with skin turbicles a slightly orange color. The Western spadefoot ranges from 1.5-3.0 inches long and has a wedge-like black spade on hind feet.