Frogs and Toads of Manitoba, Canada

Frogs

True Frog family – Ranidae

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica
Location: Throughout the province
Breeding Season: 

The Wood Frog is known for the mask around its eyes.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location:
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The Northern Leopard Frog has large dark spots all over its body. They have a complete dorsal ridge.

Green Frog (Rana clamitans)

Common Name: Green Frog
Scientific Name: Rana clamitans
Location: 
Breeding Season: 

The Green Frog’s dorsal ridge is incomplete and doesn’t reach its butt.

Common Name: Mink Frog
Scientific Name: Rana septrentionalis
Location: 
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The Mink Frog’s dorsal ridge is absent or weak. They are highly marbled.

Tree Frog family – Hylidae

Common Name: Eastern Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla veriscolor
Location: 
Breeding Season:

Common Name: Cope’s Gray Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla chrysoscelis
Location: Throughout state
Breeding Season:  End of April to early August

The Cope’s Gray Tree Frog and Eastern Gray Tree Frog are nearly identical. The only differences are their calls and chromosome numbers. Here’s a video I took of the Eastern Gray Tree Frog calling.

Common Name: Spring Peeper
Scientific Name: Pseudacris crucifer
Location: 
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The Spring Peeper has a distinct X shape on its back. It is one of the first frogs to start calling during spring.

Common Name: Boreal Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris maculata
Location: 
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The Boreal Chorus Frog has three stripes that run down its back. Here’s a video of one calling that I took.

Toads

True Toad family – Bufonidae

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Location: 
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The American Toad’s cranial crest forms opposing L shapes.

Common Name: Great Plains Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus cognatus
Location:
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The Great Plains Toad’s cranial crest forms a V shape between the eyes.

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:
Breeding Season:

The Plains Spadefoot toad is the only spadefoot toad in the province. Look at the rear foot of the toad and you will find a keratinized spade on it which no other toad or frog in the province has.