Frogs and Toads of Montana
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Montana has a diverse range of frogs and toads. Five different families of frogs live in the state.
Frogs
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: Columbia Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana luteiventris
Location: Western half
Breeding Season:
The Columbia Spotted Frog is a medium sized frog varying in color from gray, brown, olive, to green with small spots that aren’t filled all over their bodies. The undersides of their legs and belly are red to pink.
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Statewide
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. Both the Northern Leopard Frog and Columbia Spotted Frog have spots but the have larger spots that cover all of the body. Also the Columbia Spotted Frog has wide stripe by it’s lips that extends to jaw.
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
There are only two tree frogs in the state. Both of them are from the genus Pseudacris – the Chorus Frog genus.
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
Common Name: Boreal Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris maculata
Location: East of the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small sized Chorus Frog, ranging from brown, red, tan, to olive in color that has three lines down it’s back which is the key trait to tell it apart from other frogs in the state.
Common Name: Pacific Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris regilla
Location: Western part of the state in the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Pacific Tree Frog is a small frog, ranging in color from green, red, brown or gray. A dark stripe extends from their snout through their eye and down their side.
Tailed Frog Family – Ascaphidae
Common Name: Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
Scientific Name: Ascaphus montanus
Location: Western part of the state in the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog is a small frog with rough skin that is brown or gray in color. They have vertical pupils and lack a tympanum.
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: Western half of state in the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Western Toad is a medium sized toad with warty skin that’s green, gray, or brown in color. They have a thin white line that runs between their eyes down their back. The toad also lacks a cranial crest. They are a Species of Concern in the state.
Common Name: Canadian Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus hemiphrys
Location: Northern border
Breeding Season:
Common Name: Woodhouse’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus woodhousii
Location: East of the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Woodhouse’s Toad has opposing L shaped cranial crests that can be used to identify tThe Woodhouse’s Toad is a medium sized toad with brown or gray coloring. They have a white or yellow stripe running down the center of their back. Their cranial crests do not touch, creating opposing L shapes.
Common Name: Great Plains Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus cognatus
Location: East of the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Great Plains Toad is a medium sized toad with pairs of dark blotches down their back. The toads are brown, gray, or green in color. A white stripe down their back can be seen on some individuals. The toad has a V shaped cranial crest on their head with a boss (bump) in between the eyes. They are a species of concern in the state.
Video of a male Great Plains Toad calling by Annika Enloe
Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae
Common Name: Plains Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Spea bombifrons
Location: East of the Rockies
Breeding Season:
The Plains Spadefoot Toad is a small to medium sized toad that is gray, brown, or tan in color. They have elliptical, vertical pupils that are snake-like. The toad has a bony boss (bump between the eyes). Its spade has a round shape.
Introduced
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Location: Bitterroot River basin, Flathead River basin, and a population around Bilings
Breeding Season:
The American Bullfrog has been introduced to the state. It is a highly invasive species and can eat a wide range of wildlife because of it’s size. The American Bullfrog is also 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.
