Frogs and Toads of Oregon
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Frogs
True Frog Family – Ranidae
The True Frogs are your typical frogs that are generally found along the shores of a lake or pond.
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Northeastern edge 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, defined spots all over their body. They also have a pale complete dorsal ridge.
Common Name: Cascade Frog
Scientific Name: Rana cascadae
Location: Cascade Mountain range
Breeding Season:
The Cascade Frog has a yellowish underside and not well-defined spots on its body.
Common Name: Oregon Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pretiosa
Location: Cascade Mountains
Breeding Season:
The Oregon Spotted Frog has a red belly that doesn’t have spots on it. The Frog has a more reddish appearance than the Columbia Spotted Frog or the Cascade Frog.
Common Name: Northern Red-legged Frog
Scientific Name: Rana aurora
Location: West of the Cascades
Breeding Season:
The Northern Red-Legged Frog has a red belly that is spotted. The dorsal ridge is full on the frog.
Common Name: Columbia Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana luteiventris
Location: Eastern half
Breeding Season:
The Columbia Spotted Frog has small spots all over its body and a reddish belly.
Common Name: Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Scientific Name: Rana boylii
Location: Southwestern Oregon
Breeding Season:
As the name suggests, the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog has yellow on the underside of the legs and belly. It does not have a mask around its face.
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
Common Name: Pacific Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris regilla
Location: Statewide
Breeding Season:
The Pacific Tree Frog is the only native tree frog in the state. Its really a chorus frog too, not even a Hyla Tree Frog.
Tailed Frog Family – Ascaphidae
Common Name: Coastal Tailed Frog
Scientific Name: Ascaphus truei
Location: Western coast of the state
Breeding Season:
Common Name: Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
Scientific Name: Ascaphus montanus
Location: Eastern side of the state
Breeding Season:
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: Everywhere besides southeastern corner of the state
Breeding Season:
The Western Toad lacks a cranial crest.
Common Name: Woodhouse’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus woodhousii
Location: Southeastern border of the state
Breeding Season:
The Woodhouse’s Toad has a cranial crest that looks like two opposing L’s.
Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae
Common Name: Great Basin Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Spea intermontana
Location: Eastern half of the state
Breeding Season:
Great Basin Spadefoot Toad is the only spadefoot toad in the state. It has a spade on each of its rear feet which make it easy to distinguish.
Introduced Species
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Location: Statewide
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. They are an introduced and invasive species in the state. Its large size and appetite causes serious problems for other wildlife in the state.
