Spea hammondii
Encyclopedia
The Western Spadefoot Toad (Spea hammondii) is a relatively smooth-skinned species of spadefoot toad
. Its eyes are pale gold with vertical pupils. It has a green or grey dorsum often with skin tubercle
s tipped in orange, and it is a whitish color on the ventrum. It has a wedge-shaped black spade on each hind foot. Adult toads are between 3.8 and 7.5 cm (1.5 and 2.95 inches) long.
Juvenile Western Spadefoot Toads look similar to adults, but have more distinct spotting.
Populations of Spea hammondii are localized, but widespread. It ranges throughout the central valley of California
as well as the coast south of San Jose
and some parts of the desert. The Western Spadefoot prefers grassland, scrub and chaparral
locally but can occur in oak woodlands. It is nocturnal, and activity is limited to the wet season, summer storms, or during evenings with elevated substrate moisture levels. It is easily handled, with less skin secretions than similar toad
species. Their secretions smell like peanut butter
and may cause sneezing .
The Western Spadefoot is experiencing some habitat loss, but is still common in its range and the population declines are very minor even though it is listed as "near threatened" in some counties of CA.
The epithet or specific name, hammondi, is in honor of amateur naturalist General William Alexander Hammond
, M.D.
Spadefoot Toad
Spadefoot refers to the following toads:* Scaphiopodidae - American spadefoot toads* Pelobates - European spadefoot toads* Notaden - genus that includes Australian spadefoot...
. Its eyes are pale gold with vertical pupils. It has a green or grey dorsum often with skin tubercle
Tubercle
A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection, but it has slightly different meaning depending on which family of plants or animals it is used to refer to....
s tipped in orange, and it is a whitish color on the ventrum. It has a wedge-shaped black spade on each hind foot. Adult toads are between 3.8 and 7.5 cm (1.5 and 2.95 inches) long.
Juvenile Western Spadefoot Toads look similar to adults, but have more distinct spotting.
Populations of Spea hammondii are localized, but widespread. It ranges throughout the central valley of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as well as the coast south of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and some parts of the desert. The Western Spadefoot prefers grassland, scrub and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
locally but can occur in oak woodlands. It is nocturnal, and activity is limited to the wet season, summer storms, or during evenings with elevated substrate moisture levels. It is easily handled, with less skin secretions than similar toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
species. Their secretions smell like peanut butter
Peanut butter
Peanut butter is a food paste made primarily from ground dry roasted peanuts, popular in North America, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and parts of Asia, particularly the Philippines and Indonesia. It is mainly used as a sandwich spread, sometimes in combination as in the peanut butter and jelly...
and may cause sneezing .
The Western Spadefoot is experiencing some habitat loss, but is still common in its range and the population declines are very minor even though it is listed as "near threatened" in some counties of CA.
The epithet or specific name, hammondi, is in honor of amateur naturalist General William Alexander Hammond
William Alexander Hammond
William Alexander Hammond, M.D. was an American neurologist and the 11th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army...
, M.D.