Home › Volumes › Frogs › Spadefoot Toads
Hermit Spadefoot
Colour.—Greenish, yellowish, or ashy brown above, with or without a curved line of yellow extending backward from each eye. (See Fig. 17.) Iris golden. Light yellow colour about upper jaw, on sides, and on outer margins of the legs and arms. In the case of the female, the yellow is replaced by yellowish white. The under parts are dingy white, becoming purplish posteriorly. (For colouration, see Colour Plate II.)
Measurements.—Size somewhat below medium, i.e. length 2 1/2 inches. Female not much larger than male. Body stout and toadlike. Head large and with very wide front. (See Fig. 15.) Lower leg shorter than upper leg. Legs short; i. e. length of leg to heel about equal to length of body (to posterior margin of ear). (See Fig. 17.)
Structure.—Skin relatively smooth, though close inspection shows small tubercles plainly visible on back and sides. No bony crests on the head. The thin skin is completely adherent to the cranial bones and is penetrated by small black bony granules. The eyes are exceedingly prominent; pupil vertical. Ear distinct, smaller than the eye. The upper jaw lacks the indentation common among toads. (See Fig. 15 and compare with Fig. 110.) The parotoid glands are small and round. (See Fig. 16.) The inner tubercle of the sole is a large black spade-like process; there is no outer sole tubercle. (See Fig. 19.)
Range.—Scaphiopus holbrookii is found in every part of eastern North America, including Texas and Florida. It is reported from Martha's Vineyard, which fact, as Cope says, may indicate the late separation of that island from the mainland.
Colour.—Variable; green, olive, or brown--bright or dull--of light or dark shade. Streaked or banded more or less irregularly with light (bright yellow or dull yellowish). These bands may be continuous and symmetrically placed, producing a regular pattern, or may be so irregular and broken as to give the appearance of spots only. Small tubercles of the anterior back and head are black; those of the sides, posterior back, and tibia may be yellow. Buttocks with white tubercles. Iris metallic yellow, sometimes reddish. Underparts light, skin transparent and purplish posteriorly. Hands and feet light-coloured.
Measurements.—Size below medium; i.e. length 2 to 2 1/2 inches, Head 3/4 inch long (specimen of 2 1/4 inch length). Space between eyes equals or slightly exceeds width of eyelid. Leg short; length to heel equals length of body forward to ear or eye. Tibia shorter than femur.
Structure.—Skin rough, with small tubercles on head, back, sides, and tibias. Skin of underparts slightly rough, smooth anteriorly. Parotoids small, flat, covered with tubercles; indistinct. Head rounded in front; slight indentation in upper jaw. Muzzle slightly projecting, with gradual slope to the jaw. Ear round, indistinct. Pupil vertical, with narrow slit in iris below. Iris has triangular indentation at front. Nostrils nearer to the end of the muzzle than to the eye; they are directed upwards. Hand with one large and two small palm tubercles; third finger longest; first and second black and horny (male). Foot large, fully webbed, and supplied with a large black inner sole tubercle.
Range.—Scapbiopus couchii (Baird) is reported from Mexico, Lower California, and Texas. In Texas, it has been found at Brownsville, Waco, and Helotes.
Colour.—Brown or grey, with or without two (or four) curved dorsal stripes of lighter colour. Tubercles tipped with red or orange. Muzzle not barred vertically with light (as in Scaphiopus couchii). Underparts light, unspotted. Throat of male black.
Measurements.—Size medium or below, i.e. length 2 to 3 inches. The total length of leg and foot exceeds very slightly the total length of head and body
Structure.—Upper surface closely set with relatively coarse tubercles. Skin of underparts smooth. Parotoids lacking or obscure. Ear obscure. A fold of skin back of the angle of the jaw. Outline of jaw from below, acuminate oval (more acute than in Scaphiopus couchii). Muzzle short, thick, perpendicular when seen in profile. (Muzzle more truncate and protruding, but less thick than in Scaphiopus couchii). No canthus rostralis.
Range.—Scaphiopus hammondii Baird is widely distributed. It is found both east and west of the Sierras and also has an extensive range north and south. It is reported from Mexico, southern California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Nevada, northern California, and Washington. (San Diego, Olancha, Redding, California; Painted Desert, Arizona; Helotes, Texas; Pyramid Lake, Nevada; Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; Fort Walla Walla, Wash.)