Head to head
Hurter's Spadefoot vs Eastern Spadefoot
Hurter's spadefoot and the eastern spadefoot are closely related burrowing amphibians that share the same basic strategy of a life spent almost entirely underground, punctuated by an explosive, rain-triggered dash to breed, though the two species occupy largely separate parts of the United States.
| Hurter's Spadefoot | Eastern Spadefoot | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Scaphiopus hurterii | Scaphiopus holbrookii |
| Range | South-central United States | Eastern United States |
| Defensive secretion smell | Not specifically documented | Roasted peanuts or sulphur |
| Digging structure | Spade on each hind foot | Spade on each hind foot |
| Pupil shape | Vertical, cat-like | Vertical, cat-like |
| Breeding trigger | Heavy rainfall | Heavy rainfall |
| Tadpole development speed | Notably fast | As little as two weeks |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hurter's Spadefoot vs Eastern Spadefoot: common questions
Do Hurter's spadefoot and the eastern spadefoot live in the same places?
Not usually; Hurter's spadefoot occupies the south-central United States while the eastern spadefoot ranges across the eastern United States from New England to Florida and west to the Mississippi River, so while their overall ranges can come close in parts of the south-central states, the two are largely geographically separated rather than regularly overlapping.
Why do both spadefoots breed only after heavy rain?
Both species rely on short-lived temporary pools that form specifically after heavy rainfall for breeding, pools that typically hold no fish because they do not last long enough to support them, so both have evolved to emerge in an explosive, synchronised burst immediately after a suitable storm, giving their fast-developing tadpoles the best possible chance of completing metamorphosis before the pool dries up.
What is the smelly secretion the eastern spadefoot produces, and does Hurter's spadefoot have the same thing?
The eastern spadefoot produces a sticky skin secretion when handled that is famously described as smelling like roasted peanuts, popcorn, or burnt sulphur, a defensive compound that can irritate the eyes and nose; Hurter's spadefoot, as a close relative in the same genus, likely produces a broadly similar type of defensive skin secretion, though it has not been as specifically documented or described as the eastern spadefoot's.