November 2022 • Nebraskaland 49
Photos 1 – 5: The spadefoot toad
descending into a gopher mound.
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The plains spadefoot toad
is the only spadefoot toad
in the state. Look at the rear
foot of the toad and you will
find a keratinized spade on it
which no other toad or frog
in the state has. It allows
them to dig into sandy soils.
The plains spadefoot
ranges from southwestern
Canada, throughout the
Great Plains of the western
United States and into
northern Mexico.
The Plains
Spadefoot
The "spade" on the rear foot
of a Great Basin spadefoot
is similar to the plains
spadefoot's. PHOTO: ALAN ST. JOHN
