The Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) is a type of toad found in North America. It has one spur on each of its back feet for burrowing. It spends almost all of its life deep underground; coming out only to breed, and sometimes eat. Stout, with sickle-shaped spade on each hind foot. External eardrum apparent. Skin relatively smooth, with scattered tiny tubercles. Olive to brown to nearly black, often with 2 irregular light lines down back. Underside white to grayish. No bony hump between eyes.
Ten Facts about Eastern Spadefoot
- Size can vary from 2 to 3 inches (45 to 72 mm).
- They Sounds like the coarse low-pitched complaint of a young crow, given at about 2-second intervals.
- Chorus may be heard for half a mile. Spadefoots may call from burrow.
- Mating season is March to September, after rains fill temporary pools.
- Eggs hatch within 2 days and transform in 2-8 weeks.
- Can be found in Forested, brushy, or cultivated areas of sandy, gravelly, or loose loam.
- In North America, this spadefoot is found from southern New England to south Florida including some of the keys; west to southeast Misouri, eastern Arkansas and eastern Louisiana. A number of isolated populations along the northern border of it's range.
- Eat small insects, earthworms, ants, eggs of other animals, small fishes.
- Fishes, snakes, birds, are their predators.
- They secrete toxins from their skin. These toxins can be harmful if they come into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.
