Facts about Couch's Spadefoot
- 08
Named after naturalist Darius Nash Couch, this North American spadefoot toad inhabits arid grasslands and desert scrub from the southwestern United States into Mexico.
- 07
Couch's Spadefoot toads possess a toxin-secreting parotoid gland behind each eye that releases bufotoxins as a secondary defense when their initial odor warning fails to deter predators.
- 06
Male Couch's Spadefoot toads produce a loud, explosive call reaching 80 decibels during breeding season to attract females across distances of up to 1.5 kilometers in desert environments.
- 05
Larvae of Couch's Spadefoot can develop from eggs to metamorphosis in as little as nine days, the fastest development rate among North American toad species.
- 04
The spade-like tubercle on each hind foot of Couch's Spadefoot allows it to burrow backward into soil at depths reaching three feet within minutes.
- 03
Explosive breeding events in Couch's Spadefoot occur within 48 hours of heavy rainfall, with thousands of toads emerging simultaneously to mate in temporary desert pools.
- 02
Couch's Spadefoot toads produce a distinctive gasoline-like odor when threatened as a chemical defense mechanism.
- 01
During drought periods, Couch's Spadefoot toads can remain underground in a dormant state for up to two years without feeding or drinking.