The typical image of a toad is a stout, slow-moving creature with short, stubby legs. This picture holds true for many species, but some amphibians possess long hind legs despite a toad-like build. This characteristic can be puzzling, creating an animal that seems to borrow features from both toads and frogs.
Meet the Spadefoot Toad
The long-legged amphibian you have likely encountered is a spadefoot toad. These animals are not “true toads” and have several distinct physical traits. Their skin is relatively smooth with small warts, unlike the drier, more heavily warted skin of other toads. Their eyes have vertical pupils, similar to a cat’s, whereas true toads have horizontal pupils.
Their name comes from a hard, black, sharp projection on each hind foot, known as a spade. This keratinous structure is essential to their lifestyle and gives them their common name. Species like the Eastern Spadefoot can vary in color from brown to gray, often with two yellowish, irregular lines running down their backs. These markings, combined with their large, bulging eyes and stout bodies, create a unique appearance among amphibians.
The Purpose of Long Legs
The powerful hind legs of the spadefoot toad are a specialized tool for excavation. Unlike frogs that use long legs for powerful leaps, spadefoots use theirs for rapid, backward digging into loose, sandy soils. This burrowing behavior is a primary defense mechanism against predators and a way to escape environmental extremes.
By digging themselves underground, spadefoot toads can enter a state of torpor, conserving energy and moisture. This adaptation is effective for survival in arid or seasonally dry habitats. They spend most of their lives in these burrows, emerging at night to hunt for small prey or after heavy rains to breed in temporary pools.
Distinguishing Spadefoots from Frogs
The presence of long legs often leads to confusion between spadefoot toads and frogs. Spadefoots possess a stout, toad-like body, which contrasts with the more slender build of most frogs. Their primary mode of defense is burrowing, a behavior not commonly seen in the majority of frog species.
The most definitive identifiers remain their unique physical traits. The vertical pupils are a clear giveaway, as frogs and true toads do not share this feature. Furthermore, the presence of the sharp, black “spade” on their hind feet is exclusive to spadefoots. While their skin may appear smoother than a typical toad’s, it is their combination of a robust body, vertical pupils, and digging spades that sets them apart from any frog.