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 is a medium to large sized frog that is tan, brown, or olive green in color with a yellowish underside and not well-defined spots on its body. They have a dorsal ridge that runs down their side.

Common Name: Oregon Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pretiosa
Location: Cascade Mountains
Breeding Season:

The Oregon Spotted Frog is a medium to large frog that is olive to red in color with a red belly that doesn’t have spots on it.

Common Name: Northern Red-legged Frog
Scientific Name: Rana aurora
Location: West of the Cascades
Breeding Season:

The Northern Red-Legged Frog is a medium sized frog that is tan, brown, or olive color with a red belly that is spotted. Their dorsal ridge extends on the way down their back.

Common Name: Columbia Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana luteiventris
Location: Eastern 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.

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 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.

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:

The Coastal Tailed Frog is a small frog with rough skin with colors varying from olive, gray, brown, or red with a black stripe through their eye. They have vertical pupils.

Common Name: Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
Scientific Name: Ascaphus montanus
Location: Eastern side of the state
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.

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 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.

Common Name: Woodhouse’s Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus woodhousii
Location: Southeastern border of the state
Breeding Season:

The 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.

Spadefoot Toad Family – Scaphiopodidae

Common Name: Great Basin Spadefoot Toad
Scientific Name: Spea intermontana
Location: Eastern half of the state
Breeding Season:

The Great Basin Spadefoot Toad is a small to medium sized toad that is tan, gray, brown, or olive green in color. They have elliptical, vertical pupils that are snake-like. The Great Basin Spadefoot has a glandular boss (bump between the eyes).

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.