Iberian Spadefoot Toad
Pelobates cultripes
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderAnura (Frogs and Toads)
- FamilyPelobatidae (European Spadefoot Toads)
- GenusPelobates (European Spadefoot Toads)
- SpeciesPelobates cultripes (Iberian Spadefoot Toad)
About the Iberian Spadefoot Toad
Pelobates cultripes is a toad species in the family Pelobatidae. It is known under many different common names, including the western spadefoot, Iberian spadefoot toad, Spanish spadefoot toad, and Wagler's spadefoot toad. It is found in most of the Iberian Peninsula with isolated populations southern and western France.
Pelobates cultripes is a big smooth-skinned toad with a silvery gold or greenish eye and a vertical pupil. It has a black spade on the hind foot, hence its name. The edged callus internus of the hind foot is converted to allow digging. The upperside is greyish-yellowish with dark brown or greenish blotches and spots. It grows up to 11 cm and is larger and greener than the common spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus. The tadpoles are larger than those of most other toad species.
This toad is mostly nocturnal, but occasionally vast numbers of it can be seen after rain. It hides in burrows up to 20 cm deep and can dig itself into earth quite fast. When threatened it inflates its body and mews, kitten-like.
It breeds often in temporary water that is sometimes brackish. During mating season males appear first on wet nights at breeding sites, the... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Camargue
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Monfragüe National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 6 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Iberian Spadefoot Toad in Camargue?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Iberian Spadefoot Toad sighting in Camargue, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Iberian Spadefoot Toad in Camargue?
September has the highest sighting rate for Iberian Spadefoot Toad in Camargue in our monthly data.