Larvae of Common spadefoot Pelobates fuscus

  • no external gills (tadpole)
  • eyes prominent
  • golden/metallic flat and speckled belly
  • Total length:
    up to about 100 mm
  • Largest of all European tadpoles. During the first days the small tadpoles look like Tree frog larvae with prominent eyes situated exteriorly, the crest extending far onto the body and the metallic lower belly. But from above they lack the typical cello-shape like young Tree frog tadpoles.
  • From 8-10 mm length Spadefoot tadpoles are recognisable by their golden belly, not spherical like in Tree frogs, but flat and speckled; later on by their size.

Pélobate brun (F); Knoflookpad (NL); Lökgroda (S); Almindelig løgfrø (DK); Blatnice skvrnitá (CZ)

Common spadefood Larvae
(D = dorsal, back; V = ventral, underside)

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[Adult spadefoot]