Alberta Herps
Plains Spadefoot Toad (Spea bombifrons)
Distribution
- southern Alberta; from Montana to Red Deer.
Brief Description
- robust; thick-bodied with relatively short limbs and short , blunt snout; a black "spade" at "heel;" males slightly smaller than females.
Habitat
- prairie; fossorial; overwintering underground.
Feeding
Reproduction
- spawning in temporary ponds after heavy rain; rapid development of tadpoles; larger tadpoles frequently cannibalistic.
Status in Alberta
-
- relatively common in localized areas in short-grass prairie regions; needs protection of critical habitats such as hibernacula and den sites
Other Internet Resources
References
- Anonymous. 1996. The status of Alberta wildlife. Wildlife Management Division Report. Alberta Environmental Protection, Govertment of Alberta.
- Russell, A. P., and A. M. Bauer. in press. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta: A Field Guide and Primer of Boreal Herpetology. University of Calgary Press. 2nd Edition.
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Website created: 23 January 1998
Last modified: 4 February 2000
Website maintained by Mrinal Das
© Mrinal Das 2000