Hurter's spadefoot toad

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Hurter's spadefoot toad
Scaphiopus hurterii.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Scaphiopodidae
Genus: Scaphiopus
Species:
S. hurterii
Binomial name
Scaphiopus hurterii
Strecker  [ de ], 1910

Hurter's spadefoot toad or Hurter's spadefoot (Scaphiopus hurterii) is a species of American spadefoot toad (family Scaphiopodidae) found in the south central United States (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma); its range might extend to the adjacent northern Mexico. It was once classified as a subspecies of the eastern spadefoot toad ( Scaphiopus holbrookii ), but it has been granted its own species status. [1] [2] The specific name hurterii is in honor of the Swiss-American naturalist and curator of the St. Louis Academy of Sciences, Julius Hurter. [3]

Habitat

The species occurs in areas of sandy, gravelly, or soft, light soils in wooded or unwooded terrain and in sandy open woodland and savanna as well as in mesquite scrub. During periods of inactivity it burrows underground. Breeding takes place in temporary pools formed by heavy rains. [1]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">American spadefoot toad</span> Family of amphibians

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<i>Spea hammondii</i> Species of amphibian

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<i>Scaphiopus</i> Genus of amphibians

Scaphiopus is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the North American spadefoots, southern spadefoots, or eastern spadefoot toads. They differ greatly from true toads by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotoid gland, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet, from which their common name is derived. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease. Its scientific name means ‘spade-foot’ as well, from the Ancient Greek skaphís and pous.

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<i>Scaphiopus holbrookii</i> Species of amphibian

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References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Scaphiopus hurterii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T59043A196336989. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T59043A196336989.en . Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Scaphiopus hurterii Strecker, 1910". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 164. ISBN   978-1-907807-42-8.