American Spadefoot Toads - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

This family was previously included in the European spadefoot toad family, but has been split into two taxa. Pelobatidae includes the Pelobates genus, and Scaphiopodidae the rest.

• Southern Spadefoot Toads, Scaphiopus (Holbrook, 1836)
• Western Spadefoot Toads, Spea (Cope, 1866)

Spadefoot toads are generally found in arid climates, where they spend the majority of their lives underground, generally beneath perennial ponds, creek beds, or other moisture-retaining areas. During years of sufficient rainfall, the toads surface to breed and lay eggs.