Plains spadefoot toad: Difference between revisions

Plains spadefoot toads are [[nocturnal animal|nocturnal]] and secretive. They spend most of the dryer seasons buried in the soil in [[estivation]], typically only emerging during spring and fall rains. Breeding takes place in temporary pools of water left by rainfall, which requires the [[tadpole]]s to metamorphose quickly, before the water dries up. [[egg (biology)|Eggs]], laid in clutches numbering from 10- to 250, often hatch within 48 hours of being laid, and the [[larva]]e can change into tadpoles in as little as two weeks. The tadpoles exhibit [[phenotypic plasticity]], with some changing from an [[omnivorous]] morphology into a cannibalistic carnivorous morph with oversized jaw muscles and pronged beaks. In some cases, female spadefoot toads will choose to mate with ''[[Spea multiplicata]]'' rather than with males of their own species, if the resulting hybrid tadpole would have higher chances of survival.<ref>{{Cite journal