Spea multiplicata
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata) is a species of American spadefoot toad found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other species of spadefoot toad, they get their name from a distinctive spade-like projections on their hind legs, which enable them to dig in sandy soils. Spea multiplicata can be identified by its wedge-shaped spade. Some sources also refer to the species as the Mexican spadefoot toad, desert spadefoot toad or southern spadefoot toad.
The New Mexico spadefoot toad has a length of 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.4 cm) with a round body and relatively short legs. They weigh between 1.7 and 3.5 ounces (48 and 99 g). They are green, to grey, to brown, usually reflecting the soil color of their native habitat, often with black and orange colored speckling on their back, and a white underside. They have large eyes, with vertical pupils.
Like all species of spadefoot toad, the New Mexico spadefoot toad is nocturnal and secretive. If handled, these frogs might emit a peanut-like odor, which can cause tearing and nasal discharge if in close contact with the face. Spending most of its time buried in the ground, the spadefoot... Wikipedia →
Advertisement call0:13
United States · 2016
© Chris Harrison · XC890937 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Recording0:28
United States · 2021
© K. Greg Murray · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:18
United States · 2017
Chris · iNaturalist · CC0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toluca | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 3 | Guadalajara | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 4 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Spadefoot sighting in Toluca on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August and September
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Spadefoot in Toluca on a given day, against under 5% in July and November–May, the lowest months. Those are among Toluca's wettest months, with about 150 mm of rain a month against 5 mm in December.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Mexican Spadefoot sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Yes
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Mexican Spadefoot sightings, Toluca has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Puebla (México, about 10%) and Guadalajara (México, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mexican Spadefoot is recorded against all the amphibians logged in Toluca (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
