Couch's Spadefoot

Scaphiopus couchii

During dry periods this toad stays underground in the burrow of a small mammal or buried in loose soil. After rains, this spadefoot breeds in shallow pools and small creeks. The tadpoles develop extremely quickly, growing from an egg to a tiny frog in as little as two weeks.

Look For : A yellowish to greenish toad with variable amounts of dark blotching, eyes with vertical pupils, and a "spade" on each hind foot. Call sounds like a lamb bleating.

Length : 2 1/2-3 1/2".

Habitat : Desert scrublands, dry plains, grasslands, and semi-desert areas.

Range : Southwestern U.S.