toad

The western spadefoot toad of the plains and sandy areas of the western USA is an expert burrower. On each hind foot it has a wedge-shaped spade. It spends the day in its burrow, coming out only at night. It breeds in temporary rainpools and therefore has an accelerated breeding cycle: the eggs hatch after two days, and the metamorphosis from tadpole to adult takes less than six weeks.

Any of the more terrestrial warty-skinned members of the tailless amphibians (order Anura). The name commonly refers to members of the genus Bufo, family Bufonidae, which are found worldwide, except for Australia (where the marine or cane toad B. marinus has been introduced), Madagascar, and Antarctica. They differ from frogs chiefly by the total absence of teeth, and in certain other anatomical features.

The American toad B. americanus reaches 9 cm/3.5 in and is found from suburban backyards to mountain wildernesses throughout the northeastern USA. The eggs are laid in water in long strings, not in a mass as in frogs. See also natterjack and Suriname toad.