Eastern Spadefoot

Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) facing to the left sitting on dry leaf litter.
Eastern Spadefoot

NPS Photo

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Anura
  • Family: Scaphiopodidae
  • Genus: Scaphiopus
  • Species: holbrookii
 

Skin relatively smooth and olive to brown to almost black in color, often with 2 light yellowish colored lines down back that start at each eye. Together the lines may form a lyre or misshapen hourglass shape. May be an additional light line on each side of the body. Belly white to grayish. Sickle-shaped spade on each hind foot. Tympanum apparent. Pupils of eyes vertical. No parotoid gland on head. This is the only spadefoot to occur east of the Mississippi River.

Size

4.4 to 8.3 cm long (1 ¾" to 3 ¼")

Reproduction

Breeds after rains fill temporary pools March to September.

Habitat

Uses loose sandy or gravelly soils in forested, brushy or cultivated areas. Lives in shallow burrows.

Behavior

Nocturnal.

Voice

Calls are short, low-pitched explosive grunts that are repeated at brief intervals.

Return to Frogs and Toads

Last updated: March 12, 2019

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1978 Island Ford Parkway
Sandy Springs, GA 30350

Phone:

678-538-1200
Call 770-992-6585 for non-emergency law enforcement assistance for any event that does not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of visitors or employees. Examples of when to call 770-992-6585 are for property crime (car break-ins, vandalism), suspicious activity, or a threat to the park's resources (digging). Dial 911 when there is a direct threat to the health and safety of visitors or employees. Examples of when to dial 911 are for missing person, fire, physical altercation, or injury.

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