Provence amphibian: western spadefoot

Western spadefoot: illustrated description

  • On most pictures taken of western spadefoots, the front of their body straightens slightly on their front legs.
  • The western spadefoot has vertical pupils.
  • The western spadefoot has protruding eyes.
  • Its length is around 10 cm.
  • It’s not a toad: it’s a big frog.
  • What’s outstanding in this frog, is that it has a horn-like growth on each of its feet. This helps him burrow into the sand. Hence its name: spadefoot.
  • It usually burries itself under the sand (or any soft ground) during the day, and comes out at night.
  • The (male) western spadefoot sounds a bit like a hen (it glucks).

Western spadefoot: scientific classification

  • Domain: biota
  • Kingdom: animalia
  • Phylum: chordata
  • Class: amphibia
  • Order: anura
  • Family: pelabatidae
  • Genus: pelobates
  • Species: Pelobates cultripes
Sources:
"Guide des amphibiens d'Europe" d'A. & C. NÖLLERT / Publisher: Delachaux & Niestlé (book in French)
LPO (bird protection league) training (April 2024)
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