Spadefoot toad facts for kids

Spadefoot is the common name for several types of toads known for a special shovel-like bump on their back feet. This unique "spade" helps them dig quickly into the ground. These amazing creatures are found in different parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Australia. They are experts at surviving in dry places by burying themselves underground.

What Makes a Spadefoot Toad Special?

Spadefoot toads get their name from a hard, wedge-shaped bump found on each of their hind feet. This "spade" is actually a special growth, often made of keratin, which is the same stuff your fingernails are made of. They use these spades like tiny shovels to dig backwards into the soil. They can disappear underground in just a few minutes! This digging ability is super important for them to escape hot sun, dry weather, and even predators.

Spadefoot toads usually have round, chunky bodies and short legs. Their skin is often smooth or slightly warty, and their colors can vary, but they are usually dull browns, greens, or grays. This helps them blend in with the soil and sand where they live. They also have large, bulging eyes, which help them see at night when they are most active.

Where Do Spadefoot Toads Live?

Spadefoot toads are found in many places, but they especially love dry areas. You can find them in deserts, grasslands, and sandy regions.

• American spadefoot toads (family Scaphiopodidae) live in North America, from southern Canada down to Mexico. They are common in the southwestern United States, where deserts are widespread.
• European spadefoot toads (genus Pelobates) are found across Europe and parts of western Asia. They often live in areas with sandy soils, like river floodplains or coastal dunes.
• The genus Notaden includes Australian spadefoot toads. These toads live in the drier parts of Australia, where they have adapted to the harsh desert conditions.

These toads are masters of survival in tough environments. They spend most of their lives underground, sometimes for many months or even years, waiting for rain.

How Do Spadefoot Toads Survive?

Spadefoot toads are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. During the day, or when the weather is dry, they stay buried deep in the soil. This behavior is called estivation, which is like hibernation but for hot, dry conditions. While underground, they create a waterproof cocoon around themselves using their own skin. This cocoon helps them keep moisture inside their bodies, so they don't dry out.

When it finally rains, especially heavy thunderstorms, the toads quickly dig their way out of the ground. They come out to find food and, most importantly, to breed. They have to act fast because the temporary pools of water they need for breeding don't last long.

What Do They Eat?

Spadefoot toads are carnivores, which means they eat other animals. They mostly feast on insects and other small invertebrates. Their diet includes things like:

• Beetles
• Ants
• Spiders
• Crickets
• Moths

They usually wait for their prey to come close and then quickly snatch it with their sticky tongues.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

The reproduction of spadefoot toads is closely linked to rainfall. When heavy rains create temporary ponds, the toads emerge from their underground homes. Males will call loudly to attract females to these breeding pools.

Once a female lays her eggs, they hatch very quickly, sometimes in just a day or two. The tadpoles (baby toads) also develop very fast, often in as little as two to three weeks. This rapid development is crucial because the ponds they live in can dry up very quickly. If the pond dries too soon, the tadpoles won't survive. To speed things up, some spadefoot tadpoles can even eat other tadpoles or insect larvae, which gives them more energy to grow faster. Once they transform into tiny toadlets, they leave the water and dig into the ground, ready to start their own lives.