Plains spadefoot toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plains spadefoot toad |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Spea
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| Species: |
bombifrons
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| Synonyms | |
The plains spadefoot toad (Spea bombifrons) is a type of American spadefoot toad. You can find them from southwestern Canada, across the Great Plains in the western United States, and into northern Mexico. These toads get their name from a special "spade" on their back legs. This spade helps them dig into sandy soil very well. Their scientific name, bombifrons, means "buzzing leaf shaped." This describes their buzzing mating call and their leaf-shaped digging spades. This toad was first described by a scientist named Cope in 1863.
Contents
What the Plains Spadefoot Toad Looks Like
The plains spadefoot toad is usually about 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.3 cm) long. They have a round body and short legs. These toads are often a tan or dark brown color with bright orange spots. Sometimes, they also have light stripes on their backs. They look more like a frog than a typical toad, which makes them easy to spot in their home areas.
Where They Live and Their Status
You can find plains spadefoot toads across the Midwest, from Alberta in Canada all the way to Mexico. They live wherever the soil is good for digging. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says this species is of "least concern," meaning they are not currently endangered. In fact, they seem to be spreading their range, especially north into Alberta, Canada.
Ecology and Behavior
Plains spadefoot toads are famous for living in very dry places, like deserts (which are called xeric environments). Most of the year, adult toads live underground. This is called being fossorial (meaning they are adapted for digging and living underground). They only come out when it's warm and wet.
They only go into water to breed when night temperatures are at their highest for the year, and usually within 2 to 3 days after it rains. The tadpoles hatch from eggs in just 2 days and can turn into froglets in about 2 weeks. Young froglets hide in cracks and shady spots. They live off the food stored in their tails until they are old enough to start eating like adult toads.
Toads can only live where the ground is soft enough for them to dig. They usually breed within 1 kilometer (about half a mile) of where they spend their dry periods resting underground (this rest period is called aestivation). Like all frogs, they can't move well when it's too cold. These toads like to dig near big objects like logs or rocks. They also need to be near a water source, even if it's just a patch of wet sand underground.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Plains spadefoot toads are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They are also secretive. During dry seasons, they stay buried in the soil in aestivation. They usually only come out during spring and fall rains.
Breeding happens in temporary pools of water that form after rainfall. This means the tadpoles have to grow up very quickly before the water dries up. Females lay eggs in groups of 10 to 250. These eggs often hatch within 48 hours. The larvae can turn into tadpoles in as little as two weeks.
Some tadpoles can change their bodies. They can go from being omnivores (eating both plants and animals) to being carnivores (meat-eaters) that even eat other tadpoles! These meat-eating tadpoles have bigger jaw muscles and special beaks. Sometimes, female spadefoot toads might even choose to mate with a different species, the New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata). They do this if the hybrid tadpoles (a mix of both species) would have a better chance of surviving.
Adult toads move by short hops and are not very good swimmers. They only swim in short bursts when they are breeding. They are thought to be solitary (live alone) except during breeding season. Males will call from the deepest part of the temporary pool to attract females. When a male grasps a female (this is called Amplexus), it helps her release her eggs. Once the eggs are fertilized, the parents don't usually care for them. Adult toads eat only live insects. Tadpoles are detritivores, meaning they eat decaying matter, or they can be scavengers or herbivores (plant-eaters) depending on their body type.
Tadpoles sometimes create "nests" or shallow dips in the mud. This is a way they stir up debris to find food. Scientists also think these dips might help the water stay longer, which helps the tadpoles grow bigger.
Sensory Abilities
Both tadpoles and adult toads have many senses. Studies suggest that the sense of smell is important for tadpoles. Adult breeding frogs use sounds from other frogs to find breeding ponds. They can tell how far away the pond is, how big it is, if there are predators, and how many other frogs are there. Some sources say frogs use the low sound of rain to know when to come out of their aestivation. The smell of growing plants can also help guide frogs to breeding spots.
Tadpoles have special sensory organs called neuromasts, which are like lateral lines in fish. These help them sense water movement. Adult frogs of fully aquatic species also have these, but there are not many fully aquatic frogs. Scientists are still learning how tadpoles use this sense as they grow.
Frog hearing is quite special because their lungs help to make sounds louder. They also have a unique ear structure that some scientists think might help them detect earthquakes!
Frogs also have special green rods in their eyes. Scientists believe these help them see very well in low light conditions.
Physiology
Frogs, especially those that live underground, can absorb water through a special "seat patch" on their skin instead of drinking it. Their skin has special channels called aquaporins that let them soak up water from damp ground, standing water, and moss.
Scientists at David Pfennig's lab at the University of North Carolina have studied desert spadefoot toads. They found that these toads can change their bodies to eat a carnivorous (meat-eating) diet. For example, their guts become shorter, and genes for digesting protein become active. This research also suggests that toads adapted to eating meat are more likely to have offspring that are also adapted to a meat diet. This is an interesting finding about how animals can adapt.
Both Spea species found in North America have been used in research to study how different species interact and change over time. The results show that competition for food and space can lead to species becoming more distinct from each other.
See also
In Spanish: Spea bombifrons para niños
