Frogs and Toads of Alberta, Canada
Frogs
True Frog family – Ranidae
The Wood Frog has a mask around its eyes. The colors of the wood frog varies from brown, silver, and red.
Columbia Spotted Frog has plenty of small dots all over its body that are lighter colored on the inside. The frog is found along the western half of the province .
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
The Northern Leopard Frog has large black, defined spots all over its body. It is found in the eastern half of the province .
Tree Frog family – Hylidae
The Boreal Chorus Frog is the only tree frog in the province . It has three lines that run down its back.
Toads
True Toad family – Bufonidae
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
The American Toad’s cranial crest forms opposing L shapes. It is found in the eastern half the state.
The Great Plains Toad’s cranial crest forms a V shape between the eyes. It is found in the southeast corner of the province.
The Western Toad does not have a cranial crest which separates it from the other true toads in the province. The toad is found in the western half of the province .
Spadefoot Toad family – Scaphiopodidae
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.
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