The European spadefoot toads are a
family of frogs, the Pelobatidae, with only one extant genus ''Pelobates'', containing six species. They are native to Europe, the Mediterranean, northwestern Africa, and western Asia.
Description
The European spadefoot toad grows up to in length and is often inconspicuously coloured. They have squat bodies with smooth skin and eyes with vertical pupils. They are predominantly fossorial (burrowing) frogs, which dig into sandy soils. Pelobatidae frogs burrow backwards and they spend much of their time in the ground. They prefer open areas with loose soil as opposed to dense compact soil to facilitate the burrowing and have hardened protrusions on their feet to aid in digging, which is the source of the common name. They emerge from the ground during periods of rain and breed in pools, which are usually temporary.
[
All of the species from this family have free-living, aquatic tadpoles. The eggs are laid in temporary ponds that may quickly evaporate, so the tadpole stage is unusually brief, with rapid development to the adult form in as little as two weeks. To further speed their growth, some of the tadpoles are cannibalistic, eating their brood-mates to increase their supply of protein.]
Taxonomy
The seven species of American spadefoot toads (genera '' Scaphiopus'' and '' Spea'') were previously also included in the family Pelobatidae, but are now generally regarded as the separate family Scaphiopodidae.
Family Pelobatidae
* Genus †'' Elkobatrachus''
** †''Elkobatrachus brocki''
* Genus †''Liaobatrachus
''Liaobatrachus'' (meaning "Liaoning frog") is a genus of prehistoric frog, the first fossil specimen of which was recovered from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. It was the first Mesozoic era frog ever found in China.Ji, S. and ...
''
* Genus †''Eopelobates
''Eopelobates'' is an extinct genus of frogs in the family Pelobatidae. Closely related to the living European spadefoot toad, it is known from the Eocene of western North America, and the Eocene–Pliocene of Europe. It is suggested that the dis ...
''
** †''Eopelobates anthracinus
''Eopelobates'' is an extinct genus of frogs in the family Pelobatidae. Closely related to the living European spadefoot toad, it is known from the Eocene of western North America, and the Eocene–Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) ...
''
** †''Eopelobates bayeri
''Eopelobates'' is an extinct genus of frogs in the family Pelobatidae. Closely related to the living European spadefoot toad, it is known from the Eocene of western North America, and the Eocene–Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) ...
''
** †''Eopelobates hinschei
''Eopelobates'' is an extinct genus of frogs in the family Pelobatidae. Closely related to the living European spadefoot toad, it is known from the Eocene of western North America, and the Eocene–Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) ...
''
** †'' Eopelobates wagneri''
* Genus '' Pelobates''
** '' Pelobates balcanicus''
** Western spadefoot toad (''Pelobates cultripes'')
** Common spadefoot (''Pelobates fuscus'')
** Pelobates syriacus (''Pelobates syriacus'')
Fossils
The earliest fossil genus of pelobatids, '' Elkobatrachus'', was described in 2006.discoglossid
The Alytidae are a family of primitive frogs. Their common name is painted frogs or midwife toads. Most are endemic to Europe, but three species occur in northwest Africa, and a species formerly thought to be extinct is found in Israel.
This fam ...
species.[Foster, J. (2007). "Appendix." ''Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World''. Indiana University Press. pp. 327-329.]
Notes
References
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External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q720765
Pelobates
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Extant Late Jurassic first appearances
Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte
Palearctic realm biota