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Ascaphus

noun As·ca·phus \ ˈaskəfəs \

Definition of Ascaphus

: a genus of western North American toads including only the bell toad which is distinguished by a taillike copulatory organ in the male cloaca and which is sometimes isolated in a separate family (Ascaphidae) but usually included in the Liopelmidae

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Origin and Etymology of ascaphus

New Latin, from Greek askaphos not dug about, from a- 2a- + -skaphos (from skaptein to dig); akin to Latin capo capon

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