Almost everywhere we look lately, frogs seem to be in the spotlight. From concerns over populations of deformed frogs to Superbowl commercials, these amphibians have received a wealth of publicity. But some of the most extraordinary amphibians, those that live in very dry places, receive little attention. In part, it's their own behavior that keeps them from being noticed.
Spadefoots are very secretive, spending most of their time hiding in burrows.
In fact, those that live in strictly desert areas are only active on the surface for about two weeks during the year. As an adaptation to living in dry places, all spadefoots burrow down far enough so that the moisture content in the soil is the same as in their skin. This behavior insures that they can live for very long periods without losing any water to the environment. During the rainy season, they only burrow about two inches below the surface, but during draughts they can be found more than three feet underground. But they aren't always so elusive.