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Couch's Spadefoot

Scaphiopus couchii

Couch's Spadefoot is a small, funny-looking frog that loves to dig! They have special spade-like feet that help them burrow into the ground. These frogs are often found in warm, sandy areas.

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Couch's Spadefoot is a plump, medium-sized frog with smooth skin, typically olive green, brown, or grey, often speckled with darker blotches. It has prominent, golden-eyed vertical pupils and a distinctive, hardened "spade" on each hind foot for digging.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyScaphiopodidaeGenusScaphiopus
Couch's Spadefoot
webbed_feet trait badgesolitary trait badgesinging trait badgeburrowing trait badge
Couch's Spadefoot

Category

Amphibians

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

5

Interesting facts

Couch's Spadefoot makes a loud, bleating call, sounding like a sheep, to attract mates!

Its eyes have vertical pupils, like a cat's, which is very unusual for a frog!

Tadpoles of the Couch's Spadefoot can sometimes eat each other if food is scarce!

This amazing frog can live buried underground for over a year waiting for rain!

Special abilities

Ability

Burrowing Master

Couch's Spadefoot can rapidly dig backward into sandy soil using special hardened "spades" on its hind feet, helping it escape danger and the desert sun.

Ability

Rain Responder

Couch's Spadefoot has an amazing ability to sense rainfall and emerge quickly from underground to breed and feed in temporary desert pools.

Ability

Super-Fast Spawner

Couch's Spadefoot can lay eggs that hatch and grow into froglets in as little as nine days, a super-fast transformation to survive in short-lived puddles.

Measurements & details

Length
5-9 cm
Weight
0.02-0.06 kg
Lifespan
6-10 years
Top Speed
1 km/h
Clutch Size
1000-2500
Metamorphosis
9-21 days

Diet & Feeding

This frog mostly munches on insects and spiders, but its babies eat tiny plants and algae.

Age differences: Tadpoles are omnivorous filter-feeders, eating algae and detritus. Adults are carnivorous insectivores.

Primary Foods

  • crickets
  • beetles
  • grasshoppers
  • moths
  • ants
  • termites

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Western Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis proximus

Snakes are common predators, especially near water.

eaten by

Night Snake

Hypsiglena torquata

Nocturnal snakes hunt spadefoots at night.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Owls are effective nocturnal predators.

hunts

Silky Ant

Formica fusca

Spadefoots emerge to feast on ants and other insects.

hunts

Field Cricket

Gryllus assimilis

Crickets are a common and abundant food source.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch frogs from a distance and don't touch them, as they can be delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Couch's Spadefoot?

The easiest way to identify Couch's Spadefoot is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Couch's Spadefoot?

5-9 cm

How much does Couch's Spadefoot weigh?

0.02-0.06 kg

How long does Couch's Spadefoot live?

6-10 years

How fast can Couch's Spadefoot move?

1 km/h

What does Couch's Spadefoot eat?

This frog mostly munches on insects and spiders, but its babies eat tiny plants and algae.

Where is Couch's Spadefoot usually found?

Desert

How does Couch's Spadefoot hunt?

Ambush

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