Frogs and Toads of Connecticut
Frogs
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Tree Frog family – Hylidae
Eastern Gray Tree Frog (Hyla veriscolor)
Common Name: Eastern Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla veriscolor
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April through July
The Eastern Gray Tree Frog is the larger of the tree frogs in the state. They are not always gray but can be green in color. The frogs also have enlarged toe pads used for climbing.
Some Eastern Gray Tree Frogs calling.
Common Name: Spring Peeper
Scientific Name: Pseudacris crucifer
Location: Throughout the state
Breeding Season: After the snow melts to July
The Spring Peeper is a lot smaller than the Grey Tree Frog and contains an x on its back that the Grey Tree Frog does not have.
True Frog Family – Ranidae
The True Frogs are your typical frogs that are generally found along the shores of a lake or pond.
Common Name: Green Frog
Scientific Name: Rana clamitans
Location: Throughout Connecticut
Breeding Season:
The Green Frog is probably the most common frog in the Northeast. Best way to tell them apart from other true frogs below is the 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.
American Bull Frog (Rana catesbiana)
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbiana
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season:
The American Bullfrog and the Green Frog look pretty much alike besides the American Bullfrog grows larger and that the Green Frog has a incomplete dorsal ridge but the American Bullfrog does not have a dorsal ridge. The American Bullfrog is the largest frog in the state. The males of the species have bright yellow colored throats while the females just have white throats.
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: April
Species of special concern
Common Name: Pickeral Frog
Scientific Name: Rana palustris
Location: Throughout
Breeding Season: April to May
Pickeral Frog and Northern Leopard Frog look very similar to each other because of the spots but the Pickeral frog’s spots are more rectangular than the Northern Leopard Frog.
Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: March and April
The Wood Frog is easily identified by its dark mask around its eyes. They vary in color from brown, silver, or red. They are often found on land away from water.
Toads
True Toad Family – Bufonidae
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season: Late April to July
Common Name: Fowler’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus fowleri
Location: Statewide but more common in coastal areas
Breeding Season: May to July
The difference between the Fowler’s Toad and American Toad involves the head. In the American Toad, the parotoid gland the the crest behind its eye does not touch while the Fowler’s Toad has them touching.
