Like other species of spadefoot toads, they get their name from a spade-like projection on their hind legs which allows them to dig into sandy soils.

[2] This refers to the species' distinguishing features; its buzzing mating call, and its leaf-shaped digging metatarsals.

[3] The plains spadefoot toad generally grows from 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.4 cm) in length, has a round body, with relatively short legs.

[5] This species is found throughout the Midwest from Alberta to Mexico wherever there is suitable soil for a fossorial lifestyle.

The species is listed by IUCN 2015 as "least concern" and appears to be expanding its range, at least northwards into Alberta, Canada.

Froglets hide in cracks and shade and live off stored tissue in their tails until they can start feeding as adults.

The tadpoles are also predated on by cannibal morphs, dragonfly larvae, giant scavenger beetles, and mosquito fish.

They spend most of the dryer seasons buried in the soil in estivation, typically only emerging during spring and fall rains.

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.

Satellite males have been shown to attempt to intercept females arriving at a breeding pond and are successful in about 20% of cases.

Persistent emergent behaviour has been observed personally when a piece of moss was placed in an enclosure of two captive Spea bombifrons.

[citation needed] Anuran tadpoles almost always have evidence of neuromasts arranged in lateral lines, although these only exist in adults of fully aquatic species, of which there are surprisingly few.

Frogs have a unique form of green rods in their retinas which is theorized to help them see at very low light levels.