Spea

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Western Spadefoot Toad
Western Spadefoot Toad, Spea hammondii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Suborder: Mesobatrachia Family: Scaphiopodidae Genus: Spea Cope, 1866

Spea is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the western spadefoot toad. They differ greatly from true toads (those of the family Bufonidae) by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotid gland, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet, which their common name is derived from. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease.

[edit] Species

Spea species were once classified with their European cousins in the family Pelobatidae, but have since been reclassified to their own family, Scaphiopodidae with other North American species. There are four species in the genus Spea:

• Plains Spadefoot Toad, Spea bombifrons (Cope, 1863)
• Western Spadefoot Toad, Spea hammondii (Baird, 1859)
• Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, Spea intermontana (Cope, 1863)
• Mexican Spadefoot Toad, Spea multiplicata (Cope, 1863)

Eats Mostly insects

[edit] Related species

• Genus Scaphiopus:
• Couch's Spadefoot, Scaphiopus couchii (Baird, 1854)
• Eastern Spadefoot, Scaphiopus holbrookii (Harlan, 1835)
• Hurter's Spadefoot, Scaphiopus hurterii (Strecker, 1910)

[edit] References

• Spea (TSN 206988). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 1 May 2006.