The Spadefoot of the Western Plains 



THE SPADEFOOT OF THE WESTERN PLAINS 

 Scapliopus hammondii bombifrons Cope 



IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS 



Colour: Yellowish olive. Muzzle darker through midline. 

 Indistinct curved dark band on the head between the eyes. Two 

 curving (more or less parallel) dark bands, extending backward 

 from the eyes. These bands are made up of closely placed spots, 

 each spot containing a smooth orange-coloured tubercle at its 

 centre. Similar spots with orange-red tubercles are scattered 

 irregularly over the sides and posterior portion of the back. There 

 may be four distinct light yellow bands running lengthwise along 

 the back. There may be a dark spot on the canthus rostralis. 

 Iris golden. Tibia spotted irregularly or vermiculated with dark. 

 Underparts dingy white, purplish posteriorly; throat blackish. 



Measurements: Size small, i. e. length 2 inches. Space be- 

 tween eyes equal to or greater than width of eyelid. Leg short; 

 length of leg to heel equal to length of body forward to shoulder 

 or ear. Tibia not longer than femur. 



Structure: Skin smooth and fine in texture, with a few tuber- 

 cles on the sides, posterior portion of the back, and on the tibias. 

 Muzzle short in front of eyes (no longer than horizontal diameter 

 of eye). Outline of jaw as seen from below, acuminate oval. 

 Truncated muzzle elevated. Eyes face forward and outward; 

 pupil vertical. Nostrils slightly farther apart than distance 

 between eyes. No canthus rostralis. Ear indistinct. Top of 

 head between the eyes anteriorly is horny-looking, also in front 

 of this beween the nostrils and on the end of the muzzle. It is 

 not only horny-looking, but it is elevated in two arches from the 

 front backward. (See Figs. 26 to 30.) Parotoids obscure or lack- 

 ing. Hands unusually small and fingers short. Whole palm horny, 

 so that the palm tubercles are not easily made out. Foot exten- 

 sively webbed, but the webs are deeply indented. Inner sole 

 tubercle not only large, but greatly extended, so that it is most 

 effective in digging. 



Range: Scapbiopus bammondii bombifrons is typical of the 

 northern part of the Western plains. It ranges from northern 

 Texas to Montana. It is reported from Montana, Dakota, Idaho, 

 and Colorado. 



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