Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) is the only spadefoot species found in Maryland (and anywhere east of the Mississippi). While often called "spadefoot toads," spadefoots (family Scaphiopodidae) are actually not closely related to the true toads of the family Bufonidae. They are strangely-shaped, with an elongated spade-shaped structure on the hind foot, large eyes with vertical pupils, and no parotoid glands. This species is highly fossorial (active primarily underground), and outside of the breeding season, they are usually seldom encountered. Spadefoots are associated with loose, sandy soil, which is easy to burrow into, and as a result, they are most common on the coastal plain. After heavy rains in spring or summer, spadefoots emerge from underground and migrate to breeding sites in shallow wetlands and pools. The entire breeding cycle may occur on only a few nights a year at a given locality (Conant & Collins, 1998; Maryland DNR site; Virginia Herpetological Society site).
There are 137 records in the project database.
Eastern Spadefoots in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/19/2018). - Mark Schilling.
Eastern Spadefoot in Charles Co., Maryland (6/11/2021). (c) Tim Emhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - Tim Emhoff via iNaturalist.
Eastern Spadefoot calling in Talbot Co., Maryland (4/29/2023). - Mark Schilling.
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