Couch's SpadefootScaphiopus couchii
Couch's Spadefoot Identification-
Photo by Graham Zephirin
Identification: This species is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females possess different physical trails. Males have a more uniform mottled green and yellow skin, while females have a camouflage-style black and yellow pattern. Males are generally larger than females, and adults typically range from 6.3-8.9 cm SVL (Hammerson, 1999). Large eyes protrude above the skull, and no boss is present between them. Skin is smoother than most toads, but small bumps are still present. Tadpoles are medium-sized, roundly shaped, and can be identified by their black base color and light gold flecking across the dorsal. Recent metamorphs are a lighter tan color with black dots and a noticeably blunt nose.
Habitat: Occupies short grass prairies and intermediate grasslands, and can occasionally be found at canyon edges and between agricultural fields. They prefer sandy, well-draining soils, which they are known to bury in for extended periods of time during drought conditions (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2026). Are known to use stock ponds and other shallow, ephemeral water sources to breed (see more in ‘Reproduction’ below).
Reproduction: Breeding in Colorado is known to occur after rain storms in May and June, though is still possible in later months (Hammerson, 1999). Couch’s spadefoot are known to use a variety of shallow water bodies to breed, though are primarily found in stock ponds and road culverts in Colorado. According to a study in New Mexico, females can lay between 1,500-4,000 eggs in a single breeding event (Woodward, 1987). Male calls sound like a loud descending groan.
Defense: This toad will use the spade-like tubercle on their back legs to dig into the soil, keeping them out of the sun and hidden from predators. Their secretions can also cause serious irritation in humans, especially after rubbing the face, eyes, and nose (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2026).
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Map accurate as of 1/31/2024
Distribution: The couch’s spadefoot is widespread throughout Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, with smaller populations present in California, Oklahoma, and Colorado (NatureServe, 2026). Occurs in southeastern Colorado and are disjunct from continuous populations to the south by about 100 miles (UC MNH, 2007). Initially, it was thought that this species’ range in Colorado was quite limited, but our knowledge-base continues to grow as more individuals are documented; with several recent range extensions and county records being published.
Activity: Recorded activity in Colorado is known to be between the months of May through early October, though this can be extended with rains and warmer temperatures (Hammerson, 1999). They are most active after dark, either during or immediately following rain, though can sometimes be found on dry nights as well. Couch’s spadefoot can commonly be found crossing roads during such conditions.
Conservation Status: Couch’s spadefoot were assigned the ranking of ‘Not SGCN’ according to the 2025 CPW State Wildlife Action Plan (CPW, 2026). While they are disjunct, they appear to be common within their range. Prolonged drought may be detrimental to their status in Colorado.
Diet: Likely consists primarily of invertebrates of various shapes and sizes.
Natural Predators: There are no currently known cases of predation events on couch’s spadefoot in Colorado, though it can be assumed that predators may include snakes, small mammals, and larger anurans.
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References
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. (2026). Couch’s spadefoot (scaphiopus couchi). Reptile and Amphibian Accounts. https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_bufo.php
CPW. (2026). Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan Vertebrate Rankings Dashboard. CPW 2025 SWAP Ranking Form Dashboard v2. https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/590a929e-cd66-4d95-9fc4-3bdac550f416/page/TlJ0C?params=%7B%22df-12%22%3A%22include%25EE%2580%25800%25EE%2580%2580IN%25EE%2580%2580Amphibians%22%2C%22df9%22%3A%22include%25EE%2580%25800%25EE%2580%2580IN%25EE%2580%2580Amphibians%22%7D
Hammerson, G. A. (1999). Couch’s Spadefoot. In Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado (2nd ed., pp. 74–77). essay, University Press of Colorado.
NatureServe. (2026, July 31). Couch’s Spadefoot. NatureServeExplorer. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105658/Scaphiopus_couchii
UC MNH. (2007, March). Couch’s Spadefoot Toad. University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. https://cumuseum-archive.colorado.edu/Research/Objects/mar07_toad.html
Woodward, B. D. (1987). Sexual selection and nonrandom mating patterns in desert anurans (pp. 351-355).
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. (2026). Couch’s spadefoot (scaphiopus couchi). Reptile and Amphibian Accounts. https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_bufo.php
CPW. (2026). Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan Vertebrate Rankings Dashboard. CPW 2025 SWAP Ranking Form Dashboard v2. https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/590a929e-cd66-4d95-9fc4-3bdac550f416/page/TlJ0C?params=%7B%22df-12%22%3A%22include%25EE%2580%25800%25EE%2580%2580IN%25EE%2580%2580Amphibians%22%2C%22df9%22%3A%22include%25EE%2580%25800%25EE%2580%2580IN%25EE%2580%2580Amphibians%22%7D
Hammerson, G. A. (1999). Couch’s Spadefoot. In Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado (2nd ed., pp. 74–77). essay, University Press of Colorado.
NatureServe. (2026, July 31). Couch’s Spadefoot. NatureServeExplorer. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105658/Scaphiopus_couchii
UC MNH. (2007, March). Couch’s Spadefoot Toad. University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. https://cumuseum-archive.colorado.edu/Research/Objects/mar07_toad.html
Woodward, B. D. (1987). Sexual selection and nonrandom mating patterns in desert anurans (pp. 351-355).
Account compiled by: Hayden Lewis
Reviewed by:
Last updated: 8/18/2026
Reviewed by:
Last updated: 8/18/2026
