Spea
4972198
194809228
2008-02-29T02:26:07Z
Eubot
231599
Removed taxobox colour. See [[User:Eubot/Removing colours from taxoboxen]].
{{Taxobox
| name = Western Spadefoot Toad
| image = Spea hammondii 1.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| image_caption = Western Spadefoot Toad, ''Spea hammondii''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Amphibia]]
| ordo = [[Anura]]
| subordo = [[Mesobatrachia]]
| familia = [[Scaphiopodidae]]
| genus = '''''Spea'''''
| genus_authority = [[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1866]]
}}
'''''Spea''''' is a [[genus]] of [[North America]]n [[amphibian]] commonly referred to as the '''western spadefoot toad'''. They differ greatly from true [[toad]]s (those of the family [[Bufonidae]]) by having [[eye]]s with vertical [[pupil]]s, no [[parotid gland]], and relatively smooth [[skin]]. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet, which their common name is derived from. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease.
== Species ==
''Spea'' species were once classified with their [[Europe]]an cousins in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Pelobatidae]], but have since been reclassified to their own family, [[Scaphiopodidae]] with other North American species. There are four [[species]] in the genus ''Spea'':
*Plains Spadefoot Toad, ''[[Spea bombifrons]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1863]])
*Western Spadefoot Toad, ''[[Spea hammondii]]'' ([[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]], [[1859]])
*Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, ''[[Spea intermontana]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1863]])
*Mexican Spadefoot Toad, ''[[Spea multiplicata]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1863]])
Eats Mostly insects
== Related species ==
*Genus ''[[Scaphiopus]]'':
*Couch's Spadefoot, ''[[Scaphiopus couchii]]'' ([[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]], [[1854]])
*Eastern Spadefoot, ''[[Scaphiopus holbrookii]]'' ([[Richard Harlan|Harlan]], [[1835]])
*Hurter's Spadefoot, ''[[Scaphiopus hurterii]]'' ([[Strecker]], [[1910]])
== References ==
*{{ITIS|ID=206988|taxon=Spea|year=2006|date=1 May}}
[[Category:Toads]]
[[fr:Spea]]
[[nl:Spea]]
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