Last Examination and Change: November 2001 (Uplisted)
Canadian Occurrence: BC
Description: This is a small toad reaching 40 to 64 mm in length from snout to vent. It has short limbs and a blunt snout. Adults are grey-green with brown or reddish tubercles and spots. The species owes its common English name to the presence of a black keratinous spade on the sole of each hind foot. The toads have vertical lens-shaped pupils and a glandular bump between the eyes. The mating call of the males is a loud but low, grating “gwaah” repeated over and over.
Habitat: Great Basin Spadefoot Toads are found in a variety of semi-arid to arid grassland and open woodland habitats, from valley floors up to 800 m or more. Typically they use temporary pools for breeding and development.
Threats: The dry grassland area of southern Interior British Columbia is one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems. It is under pressure from agriculture and housing development. The latter has an impact on the abundance of underground water reserves which in turn impacts on the availability of suitable breeding ponds. The intensification of road traffic increases toad mortality, especially when numerous toadlets emerge from the water at one time. The presence of cattle at pools may disturb toad breeding, and soil compacted by cattle becomes less suitable for foraging.