Frogs and Toads of Delaware

For a small state, Delaware is home to a variety of frogs and toads.

Frogs

There are two different families of frogs, tree frogs and true frogs in Delaware.

Tree Frog Family – Hylidae

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Common Name: Spring Peeper
Scientific Name: Pseudacrus crucifer
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 has a noticeable x mark on its back.

Common Name: New Jersey Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris kalmi
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The New Jersey Chorus Frog has stripes down its back.

Eastern Gray Tree Frog (Hyla veriscolor)

Common Name: Eastern Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla veriscolor
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The Eastern Gray Tree Frog and the Cope’s Gray Tree Frog and are basically identical species. The difference between them is the calls. You can identify them from the others because of the yellow or orange marks on their back legs.

Here is a video I took of some calling

Cope’s Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

Common Name: Cope’s Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla chrysoscelis
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Common Name: Barking Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla gratiosa
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Barking Tree Frog has rough skin compared to the Green and Gray Tree frogs.

Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)

Common Name: Green Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla cinerea
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The Green Tree Frog has a white line down the mouth and side that separates it from the other tree frogs in the state.

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)

Common Name: Northern Cricket Frog
Scientific Name: Acris crepitans
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The Northern Cricket Frog is the only cricket frog in the state. They have no distinct markings on their back.

True Frog Family – Ranidae

American Bullfrog (Rana catesbiana)

Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbiana
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Green Frog (Rana clamitans)

Common Name: Green Frog
Scientific Name: Rana clamitans
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The Green Frog and American Bullfrog looks the same but the Bullfrog can grow larger and they lack a dorsal ridge down their back.

Common Name: Southern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sphenocephalus
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Common Name: Pickeral Frog
Scientific Name: Rana palustris
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The Pickeral Frog and the Southern Leopard Frog look very much a like. The Pickeral Frog has more square shaped spots on its back while the Southern Leopard frog has more circular ones.

Common Name: Carpenter Frog
Scientific Name: Rana virgatipes
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Carpenter Frog is easily identifiable because of their brown color and two yellow lines that run down their back.

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica
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The Wood Frog has a raccoon mask around its face which no other frog in the state has.

Toads

True Toad – Bufonidae

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
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Common Name: Fowler’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus fowleri
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Fowler’s Toad has a clear, white belly while the American Toad has a more speckled one.

Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae

Common Name: Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Scaphiopus holbrookii
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Eastern Spadefoot Toad  is the only spadefoot toad in the state so just look for the toad with a spade on its rear feet.

Narrow Mouth Toad Family – Microhylidae

Common Name: Eastern Narrow Mouthed Toad
Scientific Name: Gastrophyne carolinensis
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The Eastern Narrow Mouthed Toad is the only narrowed mouth toad in the state. Their small, pointy head is a key characteristic of the species.