Provence amphibian: western spadefoot

By /
FRANÇAIS

Western spadefoot: illustrated description

Western spadefoot: horn-like growth
  • 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:
- LPO (wildlife protection league) training (April 2024)
Many thanks to Robin LHUILLIER, regional naturalist training manager at the LPO of Provence (wildlife protection league), for the quality of his training on the amphibians of Provence.

-"Guide des amphibiens d'Europe" d'A. & C. NÖLLERT / Publisher: Delachaux & Niestlé (book in French)
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