Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota
Plains Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus bombifrons)
The plains spadefoot toad is the most easily recognized toad in North Dakota. Its skin is smooth like that of a frog, and it has a distinct vertical pupil like that of a cat. Its color varies from a light cream, to gray or brown.
Spadefoot toads inhabit the dry grasslands of western North Dakota which have sandy or loose soil. Their back feet have a digging spur (spade) which they use to burrow into the soil. They may burrow up to two feet underground until they hit a layer of moist soil.
Spadefoots are known as explosive breeders. During the warm summer months they emerge in the evening after a heavy rain to quickly breed in shallow pools. By morning the adults are back underground awaiting the next heavy rain.
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