Spea multiplicata
—
Mexican Spadefoot
Also known as:
New Mexico Spadefoot
Subspecies I've seen:
![](../images/herps/thumbnails/09080311PD_spadefoot.jpg)
S. m. stagnalis
Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot
Spea multiplicata stagnalis
—
Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/09080311PD_spadefoot.jpg)
August 2009 in Arizona started out extremely dry, strongly limiting the number of toads hopping about on the road at night while I was there. Fortunately for me, the first and only toad I saw on this long night drive was this species, which I hadn't seen before.
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/14080333PD.jpg)
This one was found within a couple of miles of the one I had found five years earlier. This location is to the west of the range of the similar-looking Plains Spadefoot, so I didn't have to check whether this spadefoot smells of peanuts when handled in order to distinguish the species. (You probably think I'm kidding, but really! Check it out.)
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/14080436PD.jpg)
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/14080437PD.jpg)
This wrinkly fellow was a New Mexico resident, so one might think it should be called a New Mexico Spadefoot. One would be wrong. I turned this one upside down for a moment to get a photo of the wedge-shaped "spades" that give this group of frogs their name.
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/220807158L.jpeg)
Spadefoots are so cute, I can't help but photograph every one I see.
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/220809142L.jpeg)
I think this is a young Spea multiplicata, but maybe it is instead a young Spea bombifrons?
![Chihuahuan Desert Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata stagnalis)](../images/herps/standard/220810127L.jpeg)
See, this kind of thing is why people don't like ants.
Printed references:
- Brennan, T. C. and Holycross, A. T. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Elliott, L., Gerhardt, C. and Davidson, C. 2009. The Frogs and Toads of North America
- Stebbins, R. C. 2003. Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition