## Eastern Spadefoot Toad - Scaphiopus holbrookii

- Diagnostic Features:
  - Size: 2 to 3 inches (45 to 72 mm)
  - Color:
    - Ground color some shade of brown or dark gray or black
  - Other:
    - No Boss between the eyes
    - Two yellowish lines originating at each eye and running down back usually present; two lines may form a hourglass shape
    - An additional light line on each side of body may be present
    - Small round parotid gland
    - Distinct tympanum
    - Small tubercles are scattered over the moist skin
    - Throat and chest are white, the lower belly is light gray or reddish.
    - Pair of large pectoral glands opens onto the chest
    - Large protruding eyes have vertical pupils
    - "Spade" on hind feet:
  - Sexual Dimorphism:
    - Bands on back more yellowish in Males
- Natural History:
  - Habitat:
    - Forested lowlands with sandy or loose soil preferred
  - Behavior:
    - Spadefoots may remain torpid underground for several weeks. They can survive and enormous loss of water (over 40 percent of body weight)
    - They are nocturnal
  - Breeding:
    - They breed in shallow, temporary pools formed after very heavy rains.
    - They may not breed at all in unsuitable years
- Voice: Sonogram : Call ( Taylor County ) Green Treefrogs, Eastern Narrowmouth Toads in background.
  - An explosive grunt, low-pitched, short duration but repeated at short intervals
  - "wank"
- Tadpoles:
  - Tadpole stage: 20 - 30 days
  - LTRF variable, but usually either 4/4 or 6/6; uniserial A-1 much shorter than uniserial A-2 and about equal to width of narrow dorsal gap in marginal papillae; small, almost terminal oral disc that folds shut in preserved specimens or when not in use; marginal papillae with very narrow dorsal gap, sometimes appears complete; oral disc not emarginate; spiracle low on left side well below longitudinal axis; widespread, usually in temporary pools
  - < 35.0 TL; never with keratinized knob on roof of anterior part of buccal cavity
  - LTRF 6/6; brown to bronze with no contrasting markings on tail muscle; northeastern third of Arkansas and adjacent Missouri and much of area east of Mississippi River south of latitude of southern Ohio
- Range:
  - In North America, this spadefoot is found from southern New England to south Florida including some of the keys; west to southeast Misouri, eastern Arkansas and eastern Louisiana. A number of isolated populations along the northern border of it's range.
  - In Georgia, this toad is found primarily in the southern part of the state.

  - In Light Blue: Williamson, Gerald K. & Moulis, Robert A., Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia, Special Publication No. 3, Savannah Science Museum, Inc. Savannah, Georgia, 1994
  - In Green: Sound Recordings
  - In Yellow: From Both '94 study and Sound Recordings
  - In Magenta: Photograph, not found by '94, may or may not be sound record
  - In Medium Blue: Photograph and in '94 study, may or may not be sound record
  - In Orange: County Record by other Herp Atlas Volunteers
  - In Red: US Distribution from various sources

June 28, 2003 - wwknapp@mindspring.com