Frogs and Toads of New York
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Frogs
New York has a variety of different types of frogs from the family Hylidae and family Ranidae.
True Frog Family – Ranidae
The True Frogs are your typical frogs that are generally found along the shores of a lake or pond.
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus)
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeianus
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: June –
The American Bullfrog is the largest frog in the state. They are found near permanent bodies of water such as large ponds, streams, and lakes. Once the males of the species reach sexual maturity, their throats turn bright yellow. They are very similar to Green Frogs but they don’t have a dorsal ridge down their back. It wraps around their tympanum.
Common Name: Green Frog
Scientific Name: Rana clamitans
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: May to August
The Green Frog is a medium to large sized frog. They can be commonly found near pretty much any water body such as ponds, lakes, or streams. Once the males of the species reach sexual maturity, their throats turn bright yellow.
Common Name: Mink Frog
Scientific Name: Rana septrentionalis
Location: Upper Upstate
Breeding Season: June to early August
The Mink Frog gets its name after the smell it produces when being handled. They spend most of their time near and in lakes, ponds, and stream. The Mink Frog has a marbled look to it compared to the other frogs.
Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylaticus
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: Late March / early April
The Wood Frog is a small to medium sized frog. They vary in color from brown, silver, or red and they have dark “raccoon” eyes. When winter comes, the Wood Frog can freeze completely solid and then unthaw in spring. They start to breed once the ice is off the ponds in late March / early April. After breeding season, they are often found in the woods, far away from any water bodies.
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April to May
The Northern Leopard Frog is a medium to large species of semi aquatic species of frog. They vary in color from dark brown to slim green with fairly large spots all over their body.
Common Name: Southern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sphenocephalus
Location: Southeastern corner
Breeding Season: April to May
The Southern Leopard Frog has less spots on the side of its side compared to the Northern Leopard Frog.
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Rana kauffeldi)
Common Name: Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana kauffeldi
Location: Southeastern corner of the state
Breeding Season:
Common Name: Pickeral Frog
Scientific Name: Rana palustris
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April to May
The Pickerel Frog is a medium to large sized frog. Their dorsal ridge runs down from their eye to their back and inside there is rectangular boxes.
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
Common Name: Northern Cricket Frog
Scientific Name: Acris crepitans
Location:
Breeding Season: May to June
Northern Cricket Frog is the only cricket frog in New York. They have a distinct green line down its back and 2 white spots on the back of its inside legs.
Eastern Gray Tree Frog (Hyla veriscolor)
Common Name: Eastern Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla versicolor
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April to July
The Eastern Gray Tree Frogs are medium sized frogs that can be found perched in trees or on the side of your house. They are not always gray in color and can be green. They have yellow or orange coloration on their back legs.
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Common Name: Spring Peeper
Scientific Name: Pseudacris crucifer
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: Once the snow melts to July
The Spring Peeper is a small chorus frog that can often be found on forest floor or low on trunks of trees. They can be hard to find due to their small size, however, in spring when they come to temporary ponds to breed, they are easier to find. They can be distinguished from the other Chorus Frogs due to their x on their back.
Common Name: Western Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris triseriata
Location: Western border
Breeding Season:
The Western Chorus Frog has three lines that run down its back unlike the Spring Peeper, Northern Cricket Frog, or Gray Tree Frogs.
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
Common Name: Boreal Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris maculata
Location: Northeastern border of the state with Canada and Vermont
Breeding Season:
The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small sized Chorus Frog, ranging from brown, red, tan, to olive in color. The Boreal Chorus Frog has three lines that run down its back too, like the Western Chorus Frog. It has shorter hind legs than the Western Chorus Frog.
Toads
True Toad family – Bufonidae
The True Toads are your typical toad. They usually have a parotid gland behind their eyes that contain a poison called It is not advised to let your dog eat these guys.
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April to May
Common Name: Fowler’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus fowleri
Location: Southeastern corner
Breeding Season: April to May
New York has only two species of true toads – the Fowler’s Toad and the American Toad. They look very much a like but there are some differences in the back of the head.
The American Toad’s parotid gland is separated from the craniel crest while the Fowler’s Toad’s touches.
Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae
Common Name: Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Scaphiopus holbrooki
Location: Eastern corner of the state
Breeding Season: April through September
Eastern Spadefoot Toad is the only spadefoot toad in New York. Its the only toad with a spade on its back feet.
