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.

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

外見

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.

界Animalia門Chordata綱Amphibia目Anura科Pelobatidae属Pelobates

Iberian Spadefoot

カテゴリ

両生類

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

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.

特殊能力

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.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 6+ cm
体重: 0.02+ kg
寿命: 8+ 年
一度の産卵数: 1000+
抱卵期間: 7+ 日

食性と食事

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.

年齢による違い: Tadpoles are primarily herbivorous and detritivorous, scraping algae from surfaces, whereas metamorphosed adults are strictly carnivorous insectivores.

主な食物

Beetles
Earthworms
Spiders
Snails
Ants

採餌方法

Foraging

生態系とのつながり

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.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Iberian Spadefootを見分けるには？

Iberian Spadefootを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Iberian Spadefootの長さは何ですか？

6+ cm

Iberian Spadefootの体重は何ですか？

0.02+ kg

Iberian Spadefootの寿命は何ですか？

8+ 年

Iberian Spadefootは何を食べますか？

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.

Iberian Spadefootは通常どこに生息していますか？

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

Iberian Spadefootはどのように狩りをしますか？

Foraging

Iberian Spadefootの一度の産卵数は何ですか？

1000+