Plains spadefoot toad:
This toad lives along the floodplains of the Missouri River. It measures about 1 ½ to 2 inches in body length. The Plains Spadefoot breeds in very shallow water, and has the shortest progression from egg through completed tadpole metamorphosis of Missouri frogs—about one month. To hear the toad’s call go to http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/Frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.lookup.
Photo by John P. Clare
Spea bombifrons – Plains Spadefoot
Western Kay County, Oklahoma, off I35
Found crossing a road during rain
Over 6 inches fell in about 8 hours – area all flooded out but could hear spadefoots breeding in ditches
Also found 2 juvenile male Bufo cognatus, saw lots of juvenile bullfrogs, leopard frogs, heard plains narrowmouth toads. Bufo cognatus were not breeding that night.