SALTA

Habitat: arid and semi-arid environments of New Mexico.

Diet: insects, earthworms, sowbugs, and roaches.

Fun Facts: 

🐸 State Amphibian Pride — Salta represents New Mexico as the official State Amphibian. She’s a true local icon.

🐸 Built In Shovel Feet — Spadefoot toads get their name from a spade shaped, keratin like “digging tool” on each hind foot. It lets them burrow backward into sandy soil in seconds.

🐸 Masters of Disappearing — In the wild, spadefoots spend most of their lives underground, emerging only during summer rains to feed and breed.

🐸 Race Against Time Tadpoles — Because they rely on unpredictable monsoon rains, their eggs can hatch within 48 hours, and tadpoles can metamorphose at record speed before temporary pools dry up.

🐸 Peanut Scented Defense — When disturbed, spadefoots can release a peanut like odor that irritates eyes and noses. It’s their way of saying “back off.”

🐸 Clean Water Queen — Salta’s water is changed three times a week to keep her healthy. She loves to burrow under gravel and moss in her tank.

🐸 Frogs vs. Toads — All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. Key differences:

• Frogs have longer, stronger hind legs and often leap away; toads tend to sit still.

• Frogs have bigger, higher set eyes; toads have parotoid glands behind the eyes that secrete a milky, foul tasting toxin.

• Toads usually have thicker, bumpier, drier skin.

• Both lay eggs in water, but toad eggs form long ribbons, while frog eggs form clusters.