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New Mexico Spadefoot

 (Spea multiplicata)

Identification: Pupil vertically elongate (like a cat’s) in bright light; a single hard, wedge-shaped spade on each hind foot; no lump between eyes; upper surface gray or brown with numerous scattered dark spots (no stripes); head and body length up to about 6.5 cm (2.6 inches).

Mature male: Dark throat and dark patches on the three inner toes of front feet during breeding season; expanded vocal sac slightly two-lobed.  

Breeding call :  A stuttering croak about one second long (duration decreases with increasing temperature).   

Larvae: Upper side pale brown to gray; eyes close together on top of head; lower jaw not striated; carnivore morph has a broadened head due to enlarged jaw muscles, a cusped upper jaw, and relatively short intestine of only a few coils; 2-5 rows of tiny teeth on upper lip, 3-4 rows on lower lip; usually less than 7 cm total length.

Eggs: In small clusters of up to several dozen; attached to submerged objects.  

Colorado Distribution: Southeastern and southwestern Colorado. Locally common.    

Habitat: Breeds in pools and stock ponds filled by heavy rains or flooding, in plains grassland or semidesert shrubland.    

Life History: Spends most of its life buried in the soil. Emerges to breed after heavy rains in spring or summer. Larvae develop quickly and metamorphose into small toads usually within 2-6 weeks.