What type of creature is a western spadefoot
"European spadefoot toad 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 in length, which are often inconspicuously coloured. They are predominantly fossorial (burrowing) frogs, which burrow in sandy soils. They have hardened protrusions on their feet to aid in digging, which is the source of the common name. They emerge from the ground during periods of rain and breed in pools, which are usually temporary."
"Spea hammondii The western spadefoot toad (""Spea hammondii"") is a relatively smooth-skinned species of American spadefoot toad. Its eyes are pale gold with vertical pupils. It has a green or grey dorsum often with skin tubercles tipped in orange, and it is a whitish color on the ventrum. It has a wedge-shaped black spade on each hind foot. Adult toads are between long. Juvenile western spadefoot toads look similar to adults, but have more distinct spotting. Populations of ""Spea hammondii"" are localized, but widespread. It ranges throughout the central valley of California as well as the coast south of San"
"of spadefoot toad, they get their name from a spade-like projection on their hind legs which allows them to dig into sandy soils. The Plains spadefoot toad generally grows from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length, has a round body, with relatively short legs. They vary in color from greys to browns, usually reflecting the color of the soil in their native habitat, with a white underside. Sometimes they have light striping on their back. In Wyoming, this toad is found in grasslands and sagebrush communities below east of the Continental Divide. The western toad or boreal toad (""Bufo boreas"")"
"reclassified to their own family, Scaphiopodidae with other North American species. There are four species in the genus ""Spea"": Genus ""Scaphiopus"", southern spadefoot toads Spea Spea is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the western spadefoot toads. They differ greatly from true toads (those of the family Bufonidae) by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotoid glands, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet, from which their common name is derived. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease. Its name is from"
"Jose and some parts of the desert. The western spadefoot prefers grassland, scrub and chaparral locally but can occur in oak woodlands. It is nocturnal, and activity is limited to the wet season, summer storms, or during evenings with elevated substrate moisture levels. It is easily handled, with less skin secretions than similar toad species. Their secretions smell like peanut butter and may cause sneezing. The western spadefoot is experiencing some habitat loss, but is still common in its range and the population declines are very minor even though it is listed as ""near threatened"" in some counties of CA."
"Scaphiopus holbrookii Scaphiopus holbrookii, commonly known as the eastern spadefoot, is a species of American spadefoot toad (family Scaphiopodidae) endemic to the United States. It is found in the southeastern United States, except for mountainous areas, and is also found northward along the Atlantic Coast, through the Mid-Atlantic states, into southern New England, including eastern Massachusetts. It is found in inland states such as Pennsylvania and New York, but only as far westward as the appalacian mountains, and the Hudson River Valley in New York. The average length (head + body) of an adult Eastern spadefoot is 44–57 mm (1¾-2¼"
"Spea Spea is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the western spadefoot toads. They differ greatly from true toads (those of the family Bufonidae) by having eyes with vertical pupils, no parotoid glands, and relatively smooth skin. Their most distinctive feature is a spade-like projection on their hind feet, from which their common name is derived. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease. Its name is from the Ancient Greek """" (, ‘cave, cavern’) ""Spea"" species were once classified with their European cousins in the family Pelobatidae, but have since been"
"Scaphiopus Scaphiopus is a genus of North American amphibian commonly referred to as the North American spadefoots, southern spadefoots, or eastern spadefoot toads. They differ greatly from true toads (those of the family Bufonidae) 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, from which their common name is derived. This projection enables spadefoot toads to dig in loose soils with ease. Its scientific names means ‘spade-foot’ as well, from the Ancient Greek ' (, ‘spade, shovel’) and ' (, ‘foot, leg’). ""Scaphiopus"" species"
"Pelobates syriacus Pelobates syriacus, the eastern spadefoot or Syrian spadefoot, is a species of toad in the family Pelobatidae, native to an area extending from Eastern Europe to Western Asia. The eastern spadefoot is a plump toad with a large head with a flat topped skull, large, protruding eyes and vertical slit-like pupils. It can grow to a length of about . The skin is smooth with a scattering of small warts. The male has a large gland at the back of his fore legs which becomes enlarged in the breeding season. The front foot has four toes and the"
"3.8 to 6.3 cm long. It is usually gray, olive or brown colored. Gray streaks outline an hourglass shaped marking on the back. The skin is smooth compared with the bumpy skin of the true toads in the genus ""Bufo"". There is a spade present on the inside of each hind foot; it has sharp edges and is wedge-shaped. A glandular boss is present between the eyes. Eyes are catlike; pupils are vertical in bright light and round at night. Dark brown spots are present on each upper eyelid. The natural habitats of the Great Basin spadefoot include pinyon-juniper, ponderosa"
"are eaten by frogs and birds. The species is considered a human ally against the West Nile virus, as the individuals consume ""Culex"" mosquito larvae. They also are used as a biological agent in Japan, eating weeds in rice paddies. In Wyoming, the presence of ""Triops longicaudatus"" usually indicates a good chance of the hatching of spadefoot frogs. Dried eggs of ""Triops"" ""longicaudatus"" are sold in kits to be raised as aquarium pets, sold under the name of ""aquasaurs"", ""trigons"" or ""triops"". These are most often of the greenish-brown variety, but the red variant is fairly common among enthusiasts. Captive"
"Western small-footed bat The western small-footed bat (""Myotis ciliolabrum""), also known as the western small-footed myotis, is a species of vesper bat native to North America. Western small-footed bats are relatively small bats, having a total length of , and a wingspan of about . They weigh just , with females being larger than males. Their fur is yellowish-brown in color, with paler, sometimes white, underparts. The muzzle and chin are black, as are the long ears. The tail is in length, but is almost entirely enclosed within the uropatagium, with only the tip extending beyond it. As the common"
"Eastern hooded scaly-foot The eastern hooded scaly-foot (Pygopus schraderi) is a species of flap-footed lizard found in the complex heaths of the lower west coast and the spinifex grasslands of mainland Australia. They are popular pets and are often mistaken for snakes due to their limbless appearance The family of Pygopods consists of 41 described species found only in Australia and New Guinea. They inhabit most of mainland Australia except for south-eastern Victoria and Tasmania, preferring dry open habitats Pygopods, or ‘legless lizards’, move by lateral undulations of the body and tail. They have no forelimbs but have retained vestigial"
"and fertilize more eggs. Until then, it lives away from water, eating insects and other bugs. Noise of the spea: Low frequency and vibration, it may be harmful even fatal to this species. They are very sensitive to such disturbances which cause them to break dormancy and emerge from their burrows The epithet or specific name, ""hammondi"", is in honor of amateur naturalist General William Alexander Hammond, M.D. Spea hammondii The western spadefoot toad (""Spea hammondii"") is a relatively smooth-skinned species of American spadefoot toad. Its eyes are pale gold with vertical pupils. It has a green or grey dorsum"
"Western skink The western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm (about 4 to 8.25 inches) in total length (body + tail). It is one of five species of lizards in Canada. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders and beetles. Western skinks will bite if grasped and will flee if they feel threatened. It is a common but secretive species whose range extends throughout Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and into western Montana and"
"Pantherophis ramspotti Pantherophis ramspotti, commonly known as the western fox snake or western foxsnake, is a species of rat snake that is endemic to the upper midwestern United States, west of the Mississippi river. It is non-venomous. The scientific name, ""ramspotti"", is in honor of the late aspiring herpetologist Joseph Ramspott. Prior to 2011 when ""P. ramspotti"" was proposed as a new species name, it was thought to be the same species as ""P. vulpinus"", and ""P. vulpinus"" was sometimes called the western fox snake. A 2011 paper by Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham, Gardner proposed that the Mississippi River"
"Pantherophis ramspotti Pantherophis ramspotti, commonly known as the western fox snake or western foxsnake, is a species of rat snake that is endemic to the upper midwestern United States, west of the Mississippi river. It is non-venomous. The scientific name, ""ramspotti"", is in honor of the late aspiring herpetologist Joseph Ramspott. Prior to 2011 when ""P. ramspotti"" was proposed as a new species name, it was thought to be the same species as ""P. vulpinus"", and ""P. vulpinus"" was sometimes called the western fox snake. A 2011 paper by Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham, Gardner proposed that the Mississippi River"
"back foot has five with deeply indented webbing between them. The hind legs are short and at the back of each hind foot is a yellowish bony protuberance, the inner metatarsal tubercle or spade, that gives the animal its name. The colour of the frog is quite variable, the back often being pale grey with large, greenish, irregularly shaped blotches and the belly being pale grey. The eastern spadefoot can be distinguished from the western spadefoot (""Pelobates cultripes"") by the colour of the spade which is black in the latter, and from the common spadefoot (""Pelobates fuscus"") by the fact"
"stripes, these stripes can be very distinct to quite faint. There is a dark band present from the snout, through the eye and continuing down the side. It has slightly enlarged toes discs to help in climbing small grasses and vegetation. In Wyoming, this frog is found in marshes, ponds, small lakes, up to . The Great Basin spadefoot (""Spea intermontana"") is a species of toad in the family Scaphiopodidae. The natural habitats of the Great Basin spadefoot include pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and high elevation spruce-fir forests, semidesert shrubland, sagebrush flats, temperate grasslands, and deserts. They are present in agricultural"
"it hasn't rained recently. They spend most of the time during the dry season buried in the ground in aestivation. When it rains, they emerge to feed on invertebrates and to breed in vernal pools. They have one of the fastest reproductive cycles of any amphibian species. Once laid, eggs hatch in a matter of a day or two. The tadpoles are capable of developing to froglets within a couple of weeks. This feature is primarily due to fact that most of their breeding areas dry quickly once the rainy season is over. Genus ""Spea"", Western Spadefoot Toads Scaphiopus Scaphiopus"
"and pebbly clay soils. The range of eastern spadefoot is limited by mean annual temperature and rainfall (the species does not live in the areas with insufficient summer temperature and in areas with a high rainfall level), but the northern distribution limit may additionally depend on the distribution of common spadefoot. Because the species has large tadpoles, the distribution is additionally limited by presence of sufficiently large but fishless ponds. The eastern spadefoot has a distinctive call, usually emitted from underwater and often continuing all night. It is a rapid, staccato ""clock...clock...clock"" that is audible from some way away. The"
"Western longnose spurdog The western longnose spurdog ("" Squalus nasutus"") is a dogfish of the family Squalidae, found on the continental shelf off the northwest and southwest coasts of Western Australia, at depths between 300 and 510 m. Its length is at least 55 cm. The western longnose is a rare, small and slender dogfish with a narrow head and long, narrow snout. A short medial barbel is on the anterior nasal flaps. The pectoral fin has a shallowly concave posterior margin. The first dorsal fin is moderately high with a short spine. Coloration is light grey above, paler below,"
"Pythonodipsas The western keeled snake (""Pythonodipsas carinata"") is a species of snake in the family Lamprophiidae, subfamily Pseudaspidinae. It is native to western Namibia, southwestern Angola, and southwestern Zambia, and is the only member of the genus ""Pythonodipsas"". ""P. carinata"" is most closely related to ""Pseudaspis cana"". Together these two monotypic genera make up the subfamily Pseudaspidinae of the family Lamprophiidae. ""Pythonodipsas"" closely resembles the colubrine genus ""Spalerosophis"", although the two are not closely related. ""P. carinata"" is unusual in possessing greatly fragmented head shields, a peculiar maxillary dentition (3rd to 6th largest, posterior-most tooth large and grooved), a reduced"
"Western tree frog The western tree frog (""Polypedates occidentalis"") is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to India. This tree frog is characterized in having an obtusely pointed snout, a large tympanum, a prominent fold from the back of the eye to the shoulder,and an hourglass pattern on the dorsum terminating in the shape of a trident; in breeding season, the male possesses nuptial pads on first and second fingers. This frog is closely related to ""Polypedates cruciger"" from Sri Lanka and ""P. pseudocruciger"" from Western Ghats. However, it is diagnosed by the following characters, apart from"
"Latrodectus hesperus Latrodectus hesperus, the western black widow spider or western widow, is a venomous spider species found in western regions of North America. The female's body is 14–16 mm (1/2 in) in length and is black, often with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the lower abdomen. This ""hourglass"" mark can be yellow, and on rare occasions, white. The male of the species is around half this length and generally a tan color with lighter striping on the abdomen. The population was previously described as a subspecies of ""Latrodectus mactans"" and it is closely related to the northern species ""Latrodectus"
"eastern spadefoot is considered of ""Least concern"" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The chief threat it faces is habitat loss due to changes in land use and the drainage of areas in which it breeds. It has a wide distribution and is believed to have a large population, so, although its range is rather fragmented, it is thought to be declining sufficiently slowly as to not need to be listed in a more threatened category. However, some of its separate populations are susceptible to local extinction due to adverse conditions, especially in arid areas. Pelobates syriacus Pelobates"
"with no white spots. The pale dorsal fins have dusky tips and posterior margins. A dark blotch is seen on part of the caudal fin's posterior margin. Its reproduction is ovoviviparous. Western longnose spurdog The western longnose spurdog ("" Squalus nasutus"") is a dogfish of the family Squalidae, found on the continental shelf off the northwest and southwest coasts of Western Australia, at depths between 300 and 510 m. Its length is at least 55 cm. The western longnose is a rare, small and slender dogfish with a narrow head and long, narrow snout. A short medial barbel is on"
"indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ""Coleonyx"". The subspecific name, ""abbotti"", is in honor of American ornithologist Clinton Gilbert Abbott. The subspecific name, ""bogerti"", is in honor of American herpetologist Charles Mitchill Bogert. Western banded gecko The western banded gecko (""Coleonyx variegatus"") is a species of gecko found in the southwestern United States (southern California, southwest New Mexico, southern Arizona, Utah, Nevada) and northern Mexico (Sonora, northwest Baja California). Five subspecies are recognized. The western banded gecko is a terrestrial lizard, ranging in total length (including tail) from . Hatchlings measure . The body"
"bodies during the breeding season. Western tree frog The western tree frog (""Polypedates occidentalis"") is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to India. This tree frog is characterized in having an obtusely pointed snout, a large tympanum, a prominent fold from the back of the eye to the shoulder,and an hourglass pattern on the dorsum terminating in the shape of a trident; in breeding season, the male possesses nuptial pads on first and second fingers. This frog is closely related to ""Polypedates cruciger"" from Sri Lanka and ""P. pseudocruciger"" from Western Ghats. However, it is diagnosed by"
"implantation in the western spotted skunk clearly sets it apart. Seven subspecies are generally recognized: Western spotted skunk The western spotted skunk (""Spilogale gracilis"") is a spotted skunk of the west of North America With a total length of , the western spotted skunk is smaller than the striped skunk (""Mephitis mephitis""). Males, which weigh , are significantly heavier than females, at , but only about 6% longer, on average. The adult is boldly striped black and creamy white, with three longitudinal stripes on each side of the front part of the body, and three vertical stripes on the hind-parts."
"Western ground snake The western ground snake (""Sonora semiannulata"") is a species of small, harmless colubrid snake. The species is endemic to North America. It is sometimes referred to as the common ground snake or variable ground snake, as its patterning and coloration can vary widely, even within the same geographic region. Another common name is miter snake referring to the head marking which suggests a bishop's miter; the synonym """"episcopus"" "" (Latin for ""bishop"") is a similar allusion. ""S. semiannulata"" is native to the Southwestern United States, in Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri , New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas,"
"White-throated spadebill The white-throated spadebill (""Platyrinchus mystaceus"") is a tiny passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It lives in the tropical Americas. The adult white-throated spadebill is 3.8 in (9.7 cm) long, weighs 0.33 oz (9.3 g), and has large eyes and a very short tail. The large head is distinctively marked, with a long yellowish supercilium, blackish ear coverts, yellow eyering, and a black stripe down each side of the neck. The crown has a concealed yellow crest, which is erected as a fan by the singing male. The upperparts are dark olive brown, and the underparts are"
"that its head is not domed. The eastern spadefoot is native to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Syria and Turkey. It is quite common in Iran but is uncommon over much of its range. It is thought to be extinct in Jordan and its status is unclear in Albania, Iraq, Moldova and Ukraine. It lives in light woodland, bushy and semi-desert areas, badlands, arable fields and dunes. It prefers loose soil where it can use its spades to dig the burrow in which it lives, but is also found in rocky areas"