Frogs and Toads of Alberta, Canada

Frogs

True Frog family – Ranidae

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

Common Name: Wood Frog
Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica
Location: 
Breeding Season: 

The Wood Frog has a mask around its eyes. The colors of the wood frog varies from brown, silver, and red.

Common Name: Columbia Spotted Frog
Scientific Name: Rana luteiventris
Location: Western half
Breeding Season:

Columbia Spotted Frog has plenty of small dots all over its body that are lighter colored on the inside.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

Common Name: Northern Leopard Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pipiens
Location: Eastern half
Breeding Season:

The Northern Leopard Frog has large black, defined spots all over its body.

Tree Frog family – Hylidae

Common Name: Boreal Chorus Frog
Scientific Name: Pseudacris maculata
Location: 
Breeding Season: 

The Boreal Chorus Frog is the only tree frog in the province . It has three lines that run down its back. Here’s a video of one calling.

Toads

True Toad family – Bufonidae

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Location: Eastern half
Breeding Season: 

The American Toad’s cranial crest forms opposing L shapes.

Common Name: Great Plains Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus cognatus
Location: Southeast corner of the province
Breeding Season:

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

Common Name: Western Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus boreas
Location: Western half
Breeding Season:

The Western Toad does not have a cranial crest which separates it from the other true toads in the province.

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.