Great Basin Spadefoot
Spea intermontana
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderAnura (Frogs and Toads)
- FamilyScaphiopodidae (North American Spadefoots)
- GenusSpea (Western Spadefoots)
- SpeciesSpea intermontana (Great Basin Spadefoot)
About the Great Basin Spadefoot
The Great Basin spadefoot (Spea intermontana) is an amphibian in the family Scaphiopodidae. It is 3.8 to 6.3 centimetres (1.5 to 2.5 in) long and is usually colored gray, olive or brown. Great Basin spadefoot toads have adapted to life in dry habitats. They use the hard, keratinized spade on each foot to dig a burrow, where they spend long periods during cold and dry weather. They are opportunistic hunters and will eat anything they can subdue. While their tadpoles have numerous predators, adults are able to produce skin secretions that deter enemies.
The Great Basin spadefoot ranges from 3.8 to 6.3 centimetres (1.5 to 2.5 in) long. It is usually gray, olive or brown colored. Gray streaks outline an hourglass-shaped marking on the back. The skin is smooth compared with the bumpy skin of the true toads in the genus Bufo. There is a spade present on the inside of each hind foot; it has sharp edges and is wedge-shaped. A glandular boss is present between the eyes. Eyes are catlike; pupils are vertical in bright light and round at night. Dark brown spots are present on each upper eyelid.
The natural habitats of the Great Basin spadefoot... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Great Basin Spadefoot in Grand Canyon National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Grand Canyon National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Great Basin Spadefoot in Grand Canyon National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Great Basin Spadefoot sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Great Basin Spadefoot in Grand Canyon National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Great Basin Spadefoot in Grand Canyon National Park in our monthly data.