Like other species of spadefoot toad, they get their name from a distinctive spade-like projections on their hind legs, which enable them to dig in sandy soils.

The New Mexico spadefoot toad has a length of 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.4 cm) with a round body and relatively short legs.

Spending most of its time buried in the ground, the spadefoot emerges during periods of summer rainfall to feed on insects and to breed.

Features of this carnivore phenotype include enlarged jaw muscles and mouthparts that can aid in capturing and consuming prey.

[4] Slower and smaller omnivore forms of New Mexico spadefoot tadpoles are more likely to be preyed upon by carnivore morphs of the same species.

[6] They found that although its genome is on the smaller side compared to most other anurans, there have been several duplications of the key developmental gene nodal, which may be part of the reason spadefoots are able to develop so quickly and show so much phenotypic plasticity.

Another potential effect of climate change could be on the spadefoot toad's calling behavior, used by males to attract mates, which is temperature dependent.