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.

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

Aspecto

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.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseAmphibiaOrdenAnuraFamiliaPelobatidaeGéneroPelobates

Iberian Spadefoot

Categoría

Anfibios

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

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.

Habilidades especiales

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.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 6+ cm
Peso: 0.02+ kg
Esperanza de vida: 8+ años
Tamaño de la puesta: 1000+
Incubación: 7+ días

Dieta y alimentación

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.

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

Alimentos principales

Beetles
Earthworms
Spiders
Snails
Ants

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

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.

Rasgos

Aún no hay insignias de rasgos asignadas a este objeto.

También conocido como

Todavía no hay alias listados.

Colecciones

Las colecciones para este objeto aparecerán aquí a medida que se añadan más temas.

Seguridad

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Cómo identificar a Iberian Spadefoot?

La forma más fácil de identificar a Iberian Spadefoot es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.

¿Cuál es el longitud de Iberian Spadefoot?

6+ cm

¿Cuál es el peso de Iberian Spadefoot?

0.02+ kg

¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Iberian Spadefoot?

8+ años

¿Qué come 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.

¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Iberian Spadefoot?

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

¿Cómo caza Iberian Spadefoot?

Foraging

¿Cuál es el tamaño de la puesta de Iberian Spadefoot?

1000+