Western Spadefoot Toad (Spea hammondii)

Common Name: Western Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Spea hammondii
Family: Scaphiopodidae – American Spadefoot Toad family
Location: Mexico and the United States
US Location: California
Size: 1.5 – 2.5 inches (38.1 – 65 mm)

The Western Spadefoot Toad is fossorial species of toad, which means they spend most of their time burrowed underground. They are able to dig well due to the spades on their rear feet, which is how they got their name. The toads rarely come to the surface, mostly after rains. They are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.

The Western Spadefoot Toad breeds following the rains during between October and May. The male toads will gather in pools filled with the water from the rain and will start to call. The female toads of the species will arrive and pair up with the male toads. The male toad will grasps the female from behind, called amplexus. The female toad will lay her eggs and the male will then fertilize them. The female toads can lay over 500 eggs at a time. Neither of the parents will perform any parental care for the offspring. The eggs usually take between 3 to 4 days to hatch into tadpoles but can hatch in as little as a day. The tadpoles take between 4 to 11 weeks to complete their metamorphosis.

The Western Spadefoot Toad is sadly listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Development of their habitat is the primary reason for the listing. Other threats include non-native species and logging. It is listed as a species of special concern by the state of California. The toad has also been suggested to be added to the Endangered Species list.