Pelobates varaldii
species of amphibian

Pelobates varaldii, the Moroccan spadefoot toad, Moroccan spadefoot, or Varaldi's spadefoot toad, is a species of frog in the family Pelobatidae. As currently known, it is endemic to the coastal north-western Morocco, although there is an unconfirmed record from the Spanish territory of Melilla that could possibly represent this species. The specific name varaldii honours Marcel Varaldi who collected amphibians and reptiles in Morocco.
Description
Males grow to 65 mm (2.6 in) and females to 70 mm (2.8 in) in snout–vent length. The overall appearance is stocky. The snout is sharp. The tympanum is present but inconspicuous. No parotoid glands are present. The dorsum is finely glandular and smooth; colouration is grey-brown with irregular darker markings. There can be red speckles above the eyes.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Pelobates varaldii” is species of amphibian. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Pelobates, varaldii and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of amphibian” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 28, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1552418. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Pelobates varaldii”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Pelobates varaldii primary sources, Pelobates varaldii archive and Pelobates research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Pelobates varaldii”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Pelobates varaldii” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.