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
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. The males of the species have bright yellow colored throats while the females just have white throats. 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 and American Bullfrog looks the same but the Green Frog’s dorsal ridge on its back does not go all the way down its back. Males of the species have a bright yellow throat while female’s throats are boring white.
Common Name: Mink Frog
Scientific Name: Rana septrentionalis
Location: Upper Upstate
Breeding Season: June to early August
Mink Frog looks kinda like the Green and Bullfrog but it has a more black marbled back.
Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylaticus
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: Late March / early April
The Wood Frog has a raccoon like mask on its face that makes it easy to identify. They vary in color from brown, silver, or red. They start to breed once the ice is off the ponds in late March / early April. 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
Common Name: Southern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sphenocephalus
Location: Southeastern corner
Breeding Season: April to May
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
Pickeral Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, and Southern Leopard Frog look very similar to each other because of the spots but the Pickeral frog’s spots are more rectangular than the Leopard Frogs. The Southern Leopard Frog has less spots on the side of its side compared to the Northern Leopard Frog.
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 not always gray and can be green. They also have yellow 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 can be identified by the X marking on its back. Their call is one of the first signs of spring.
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 has three lines that run down its back too, like the Western Chorus Frog. It has shorter hind legs than the Midland 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.
