Iberian Spadefoot

pelobates cultripes

The Iberian Spadefoot is a fascinating, stocky amphibian native to the Iberian Peninsula and parts of western France. What makes this spadefoot truly remarkable is its highly specialized subterranean lifestyle; it is a master digger that spends a significant portion of its life buried safely underground. Equipped with sharp, hardened black "spades" on its hind feet, it can burrow backwards into sandy or loose soil in a matter of seconds to escape predators and survive dry Mediterranean summers. Only emerging under the cover of darkness during rainy periods, this secretive creature plays a vital role in its native ecosystems as both a predator of invertebrates and a food source for larger animals.

Lebensraum: Found in open landscapes with loose, sandy soils such as dunes, pine forests, and agricultural areas, always situated near temporary breeding pools.

Aussehen

Adult Iberian Spadefoots are medium-sized, typically measuring between 6 to 10 centimeters in length with a robust, rounded body shape and no distinct neck. Their smooth skin ranges in color from pale gray or beige to yellowish-green, heavily mottled with dark green, brown, or olive blotches. Their most striking features are their large, prominent eyes with vertical, cat-like pupils and the highly distinctive, hard black metatarsal tubercle (the "spade") located on the inner edge of each hind foot.

ReichAnimaliaStammChordataKlasseAmphibiaOrdnungAnuraFamiliePelobatidaeGattungPelobates

Iberian Spadefoot

Kategorie

Amphibien

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

The distinct garlic odor they release when handled is so strong that it has earned them the local nickname 'garlic toad' in several regions.

Their tadpoles are absolute giants, frequently reaching lengths of up to 15 centimeters before shrinking down during metamorphosis.

Unlike most European frogs and toads, they have vertical, slit-like pupils similar to those of a cat.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Using the sharp, keratinized black spades on its hind heels, this amphibian can dig vertically backwards into loose soil to quickly disappear from predators.

To survive the intense heat and drought of the Mediterranean summer, it can burrow deep underground and enter a dormant state for months.

When threatened or seized by a predator, it can secrete a noxious, garlic-scented substance from its skin glands to deter attackers.

Maße und Details

Länge: 6+ cm
Gewicht: 0.02+ kg
Lebenserwartung: 8+ Jahre
Gelegegröße: 1000+
Brutzeit: 7+ Tage

Ernährung und Fütterung

Adults feed opportunistically at night on a wide variety of terrestrial invertebrates, while their large aquatic tadpoles graze on algae, organic detritus, and tiny water organisms.

Altersunterschiede: Tadpoles are primarily herbivorous and detritivorous, scraping algae from surfaces, whereas metamorphosed adults are strictly carnivorous insectivores.

Hauptnahrung

Beetles
Earthworms
Spiders
Snails
Ants

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eaten by

Viperine Snake

Natrix maura

The viperine snake actively preys on spadefoot tadpoles and young metamorphs in temporary breeding pools.

eaten by

White Stork

Ciconia ciconia

Adult spadefoots emerging during wet nights are a key seasonal food source for white storks.

eaten by

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Invasive crayfish prey heavily on the eggs and larvae of the spadefoot, severely impacting local populations.

Merkmale

Für dieses Objekt sind noch keine Merkmal-Badges vergeben.

Auch bekannt als

Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.

Sammlungen

Sammlungen für dieses Objekt erscheinen hier, wenn weitere Themen hinzugefügt werden.

Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Iberian Spadefoot?

Der einfachste Weg, Iberian Spadefoot zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Iberian Spadefoot?

6+ cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Iberian Spadefoot?

0.02+ kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Iberian Spadefoot?

8+ Jahre

Was frisst Iberian Spadefoot?

Adults feed opportunistically at night on a wide variety of terrestrial invertebrates, while their large aquatic tadpoles graze on algae, organic detritus, and tiny water organisms.

Wo findet man Iberian Spadefoot normalerweise?

Found in open landscapes with loose, sandy soils such as dunes, pine forests, and agricultural areas, always situated near temporary breeding pools.

Wie jagt Iberian Spadefoot?

Foraging

Was ist der/die/das gelegegröße von Iberian Spadefoot?

1000+