Pelobatidae
Encyclopedia
The European spadefoot toads are a family
of frogs, the Pelobatidae, with only one extant genus Pelobates, containing four species. They are native to Europe
, the Mediterranean, northwestern Africa
and western Asia
.
The European spadefoot toads are small to large sized frogs, up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length, which are often inconspicuously coloured. They are predominantly fossorial (burrowing) frogs, which burrow in sandy soils. They have a hardened protrusion on their feet to aid in digging, which is the source of the common name. They will emerge from the ground during periods of rain and breed in pools, which are usually temporary.
All of the species from this family have free-living, aquatic tadpole
s. The eggs are laid in temporary ponds that may quickly evaporate, so tadpole stage is unusually brief, with rapid development to the adult form in as little as two weeks. To further speed their growth, some of the tadpoles are cannibalistic
, eating their brood-mates to increase their supply of protein.
and Spea
) were previously also included into the Pelobatidae family, but are now generally regarded as the separate family Scaphiopodidae.
Family Pelobatidae
In the Jurassic Morrison Formation, pelobatids are represented by the illium of an unnamed but indeterminate species. This illium is larger than that of Enneabatrachus, a contemporary discoglossid species. A specimen has been recovered from Quarry 9 of Como Bluff in Wyoming. Pelobatids are present in stratigraphic zones 5 and 6 of the formation.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of frogs, the Pelobatidae, with only one extant genus Pelobates, containing four species. They are native to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Mediterranean, northwestern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and western Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
The European spadefoot toads are small to large sized frogs, up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length, which are often inconspicuously coloured. They are predominantly fossorial (burrowing) frogs, which burrow in sandy soils. They have a hardened protrusion on their feet to aid in digging, which is the source of the common name. They will emerge from the ground during periods of rain and breed in pools, which are usually temporary.
All of the species from this family have free-living, aquatic tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
s. The eggs are laid in temporary ponds that may quickly evaporate, so tadpole stage is unusually brief, with rapid development to the adult form in as little as two weeks. To further speed their growth, some of the tadpoles are cannibalistic
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, eating their brood-mates to increase their supply of protein.
Taxonomy
The seven species of American Spadefoot Toads (genera ScaphiopusScaphiopus
Scaphiopus is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the Southern Spadefoot Toads. They differ greatly from true toads by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotoid gland, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind...
and Spea
Spea
Spea is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the Western Spadefoot Toads. They differ greatly from true toads by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotoid gland, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet,...
) were previously also included into the Pelobatidae family, but are now generally regarded as the separate family Scaphiopodidae.
Family Pelobatidae
- Genus †Elkobatrachus
- †Elkobatrachus brocki
- Genus Pelobates
- Western Spadefoot ToadPelobates cultripesPelobates cultripes, sometimes called the Western Spadefoot, is a toad species in the family Pelobatidae. It is found in parts of France, Spain, and Portugal.-Description:...
(Pelobates cultripes) - Common SpadefootCommon spadefootPelobates fuscus is a species of toad in the family Pelobatidae, native to an area extending from Central Europe to Western Asia. It is commonly known as the Common Spadefoot, Garlic Toad, the Common Spadefoot Toad and the European Common Spadefoot.The common spadefoot grows to a length of...
(Pelobates fuscus) - Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates syriacus)
- Moroccan Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates varaldii)
- Western Spadefoot Toad
Fossils
The earliest fossil genus of pelobatids, Elkobatrachus, was described in 2006.In the Jurassic Morrison Formation, pelobatids are represented by the illium of an unnamed but indeterminate species. This illium is larger than that of Enneabatrachus, a contemporary discoglossid species. A specimen has been recovered from Quarry 9 of Como Bluff in Wyoming. Pelobatids are present in stratigraphic zones 5 and 6 of the formation.