Frogs and Toads of Idaho
If you are looking to identify certain frogs and toads that you found and can’t figure it out from the page, you can check my Frog Identification and see how to contact me about helping you out.
Frogs
True Frog Family – Ranidae
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Southern part and the far northern parts of the state
Breeding Season:
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: Columbia Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana luteiventris
Location: Everywhere besides southern border of the state
Breeding Season:
Both the Northern Leopard Frog and Columbia Spotted Frog have spots but the Northern Leopard Frog has larger spots that cover all of the body. Also the Columbia Spotted Frog has wide stripe by it’s lips that extends to jaw.
Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica
Location: Northern tip of state
Breeding Season:
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.
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
Common Name: Pacific Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris regilla
Location: Western half of the state
Breeding Season:
The Pacific Tree Frog has no lines down it’s back. It has a black line that goes down its eye and down its side.
Common Name: Boreal Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris maculata
Location: Southern border of the state
Breeding Season:
The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small sized Chorus Frog, ranging from brown, red, tan, to olive in color. They have three lines down it’s back which is the key trait to tell it apart from other tree frogs in the state.
Tailed Frog Family – Ascaphidae
Common Name: Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
Scientific Name: Ascaphus montanus
Location: Northern part of Idaho
Breeding Season: Early fall but eggs are laid in the following summer.
The Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog is the only frog in the state that lacks an external tympanum (ear drum). Males of the species have a “tail” that they use to internally fertilize their mates.
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.
Common Name: Western Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus boreas
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season:
Common Name: Woodhouse’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus woodhousii
Location: Southwestern border of the state
Breeding Season:
The Western Toad does not have a cranial crest on it’s head while the Woodhouse’s Toad does.
Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae
Common Name: Great Basin Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Spea intermontana
Location: Southern part
Breeding Season:
The Great Basin Spadefoot is the only spadefoot toad in the state. They have a spade on their foot which makes them distinct.
Introduced
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Location: Eastern border
Breeding Season:
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.
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