New Mexico Spadefoot Toad

Spea multiplicata

Animal Class: Amphibians

Length: 1.5-2.5 inches

Lifespan: Wild lifespan is unknown. In human care, they can live 4-9 years, possibly longer.

Diet: Mostly small insects like ants and spiders.

Habitat: Areas where there is a breeding pool available in the southwest United States and northern Mexico.

Description: Spadefoot toads have a distinct, bright call that sounds like a high-pitched trill.

Like many other amphibians, the spadefoot toad breeding cycle is based around the dry and rainy seasons. Their breeding season is less than 2 days and eggs will hatch within 48 hours of being laid.

Our Animals: Fiesta. This animal is also an Ambassador Animal.

Photo Credit: William L. Farr, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons