The
family Pelobatidae is a fairly primitive family (as the name implies). Primitive
features include a distinctive skeletal morphology, inguinal
amplexus
and vertical pupils (Nussbaum et al. 1983). The species in this family can
be distinguished from true toads by the presence of teeth in the upper jaw.
The single species found here in Idaho is the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad,
Scaphiopus intermontanus ( = Spea intermontana).