Frogs and Toads of Wyoming
Frogs
True Frog Family – Ranidae
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
The American Bullfrog is the largest frog in the state. It lacks a dorsal ridge down it’s back while the other True Frogs have that ridge. The American Bullfrog is naturally found in the eastern side of the state but there are invasive populations in the western part of the state.
Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)
The Northern Leopard Frog kinda looks like the Columbia Spotted Frog but the spots on the Leopard Frog are much larger and fully colored in. The Northern Leopard is found throughout the state.
The Columbia Spotted Frog is found more in the western part of the state. It’s spots are much smaller and irregular than the Leopard Frog’s.
Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
The Wood frog is the easiest frog to identify in the state. It’s dark mask around it’s eyes is a key give away. The frog varies in color from red, brown, and silver.
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
The Boreal Chorus Frog is the only Tree Frog in the Wyoming. Though it is a Tree Frog, it lacks toe pads. It is a small frog, only around a inch long. There are three stripes that run down its back. It is found throughout the state.
Toads
True Toad Family – Bufonidae
The True Toads in the state have a parotoid gland behind their eye that creates the toxins for the toads.
The Wyoming Toad is a Federally Listed Endangered Species and listed by the IUCN Red List as Extinct in the Wild. The toad can be distinguished from the other toads in the state from it’s parallel cranial crests that sometimes get fused together to form what appears to be one line.
The Western Toad lacks a cranial crest or lines that run between the eyes.
The Woodhouse’s Toad cranial crests do not touch, creating opposing L shapes.
The Great Plains Toad does have a cranial crest and its V shaped. It’s found in the Eastern part of the state.
Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae
Spadefoot Toads are easy to seperate from the other toads and frogs because they have keratonized “spades” on their rear feet that are used for digging.
The Plains Spadefoot Toad has a more bony boss (bump between the eyes) than the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad. The toad is found in the eastern part of the state.
The Great Basin Spadefoot has a more glandular boss than the Plains Spadefoot Toad. It is found in the Southwestern part of the state.
