Eastern Spadefoot | |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Suborder: | Mesobatrachia |
Family: | Pelobatidae[2] |
Genus: | Scaphiopus |
Species: | S. holbrookii |
Binomial name | |
Scaphiopus holbrookii (Harlan, 1835) |
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Synonyms | |
Rana holbrookii Harlan, 1835 |
The Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) is a species of spadefoot found in North America. It has one spur on each of its back feet for burrowing. It spends almost all of its life deep underground; coming out only to breed, and sometimes eat. It remains in a type of hibernation almost all its life. It burrows in a spiral, preferring sandy soils.
The epithet is in honor of John Edwards Holbrook, American herpetologist.