Eastern spadefoot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern spadefoot |
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The eastern spadefoot (scientific name: Scaphiopus holbrookii) is a special kind of American spadefoot toad. It belongs to the Scaphiopodidae family. This toad lives only in North America.
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Where Does the Eastern Spadefoot Live?
The eastern spadefoot lives in the southeastern United States. You can also find it along the Atlantic coast. This includes states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. However, it usually stays east of the Appalachian Mountains. It also lives in the Hudson River Valley in New York.
What Does the Eastern Spadefoot Look Like?
An adult eastern spadefoot is about 4.4 to 5.7 centimeters (1.75 to 2.25 inches) long. It is usually brownish in color. It has two yellowish stripes on its back. These stripes start near its eyes. They can look like a lyre or an hourglass shape. Some toads might be very dark. Their markings might not be as clear.
The eastern spadefoot has a special spur on each back foot. This spur helps it dig into the ground. There is a similar toad called Hurter's spadefoot toad. It was once thought to be a type of eastern spadefoot.
How Does the Eastern Spadefoot Behave?
The eastern spadefoot spends most of its life underground. It only comes out to breed and sometimes to find food. It stays in a kind of deep sleep for much of its life. It digs into the ground in a spiral shape. These toads prefer sandy soils for burrowing.
Scientists have studied where these toads like to live. They tend to stay in higher land areas. They prefer places near the edges of leafy shrubs. They also like low-growing pine branches and reindeer lichen. This type of environment is good for digging. It also has lots of insects for them to eat. Plus, it offers protection from animals that might try to eat them.
Some other spadefoot toads, like the New Mexico spadefoot toad or the Plains spadefoot toad, can have tadpoles that eat each other. But the eastern spadefoot never does this naturally. Researchers think this is because the eastern spadefoot is very similar to the first spadefoot toads that ever lived.
Is the Eastern Spadefoot in Danger?
The United States government does not list the eastern spadefoot as an endangered species. However, in Massachusetts, it is considered "threatened." It is also listed as a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" in Massachusetts and 13 other states. This means people are working to protect them.
Why Is It Called Holbrookii?
The second part of its scientific name, holbrookii, is a tribute. It honors John Edwards Holbrook. He was an American herpetologist. A herpetologist is a scientist who studies amphibians and reptiles.
See also
In Spanish: Scaphiopus holbrookii para niños
