Ambystomatidae – Mole Salamander family

Blue Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

The Blue Spotted Salamander has a dark body with speckled blue dots on its side.

Spotted Salamander  (Ambystoma maculatum)

The Spotted Salamander has a dark body with 2 lines of yellow dots down its body.

Plethodontidae – Lungless Salamander family

Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

The Eastern Red-backed Salamander has a dark gray body with a red stripe down its back. Sometimes, the salamander lacks the red on its back and is just gray in color.

Salamandridae

Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

The Eastern Newt has 3 distinct life stages, an aquatic larval phase, a terrestrial eft stage, and another aquatic stage but as an adult.

Common Name: Fitzinger’s Robber Frog
Scientific Name: Craugastor fitzingeri
Family: Craugastoridae
Locations: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
Female Size: 2 inches (52.5 mm)
Male Size: 0.9 – 1.4 inches (23.5 – 35 mm)

The Fitzinger’s Robber Frog lives in a variety of habitats from rain forests to dry gallery forests. They are primarily found amongst the leaf litter. The species is named after Leopold Fitzinger, an Austrian zoologist.

Females lays around 85 eggs and will sit on the nest until they hatch. They are a direct developing species, skipping a free larval phase.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Fitzinger’s Robber Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. The frog has a wide range and are common throughout it.

Wales is not home to many species of frogs and toads.

Frogs

Ranidae – True Frog family

Common Name: European Common Brown Frog
Scientific Name: Rana temporaria
Location: Throughout

The Common Frog has smoother skin than the toads.

Toads

Bufonidae – True Toad family

Common Name: Nattarjack Toad
Scientific Name: Epidalea calamita
Location: North Wales coast

The Nattarjack has a bold yellow line down the center of its back, differing from the Common Toad. They are usually smaller than the Common Toad as well.

Common Name: Common Toad
Scientific Name: Bufo bufo
Location: Throughout

The most wide spread of the frogs and toads of Wales.

Introduced Species

Common Name: African Clawed Frog
Scientific Name: Xenopus laevis
Location: Southern Wales

The African Clawed Frog is a fully aquatic frog that was once used as pregnancy tests in labs. Sadly, some individuals have escaped those labs or were released. These frogs are blamed for the spread of diseases.

Common Name: Common Midwife Toad
Scientific Name: Alytes obstericans
Location: Around Llandrindod Wells

Originally introduced in Bedford in the 19th century, the toad has spread out a bit.

Frogs and Toads of Scotland

Scotland is only home to one frog species and two toad species.

Frogs

Ranidae – True Frog family

Common Name: European Brown Frog
Scientific Name: Rana temporaria
Location:Throughout

The European Common Brown Frog is the most common frog in Europe. It has smoother skin compared to the toads.

Toads

Bufonidae – True Toad family

Common Name: Nattarjack Toad
Scientific Name: Epidalea calamita
Location: Dumfriesshire coast

The Nattarjack Toad has a bright yellow stripe down its back that the Common Toad lacks.

Common Name: Common Toad
Scientific Name: Bufo bufo
Location: Throughout

The Common Toad is more common than the Nattarjack Toad as well as larger.

England is home to various frogs and toads.

Frogs

Ranidae – True Frog family

The True Frogs are your typical frogs, generally smooth skin with long legs.

Common Name: European Brown Frog
Scientific Name: Rana temporaria
Location: Throughout

The European Brown Frog has a dark bar behind its eyes and on its legs that help identify it.

Common Name: Pool Frog
Scientific Name: Pelophylax lessonae
Location: Norfolk

The Pool Frog went extinct in the UK in the 1990’s but they have been re-introduced.

Toads

Bufonidae – True Toad family

The True Toads are your typical toad with warty skin and short legs. They usually have a parotid gland behind their eyes that contain a poison. It is not advised to let your dog eat these guys.

Common Name: Nattarjack Toad
Scientific Name: Epidalea calamita
Location: Sand dunes along the Merseyside coast, the Cumbrian coast, and on the Scottish Solway

The Nattarjack has a bold yellow line down the center of its back, differing from the Common Toad. They are usually smaller than the Common Toad as well.

Common Name: Common Toad
Scientific Name: Bufo bufo
Location: Throughout

The most wide spread of the frogs and toads of England.

Invasive Species

Common Name: Common Midwife Toad
Scientific Name: Alytes obstericans
Location: Southern part

Originally introduced in Bedford in the 19th century, the toad has spread out a bit.

Common Name: Marsh Frog
Scientific Name: Pelophylax ridibundus
Location: Southeastern part

The Marsh Frog is the largest frog native to Europe but sadly, they have been introduced to England. Their size allows them to predate on native species.

American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Location: Southeast England

The American Bullfrog is native to the eastern United States but has spread around the world due to demand for its legs.

Common Name: Edible Frog
Scientific Name: Pelophylax esculentus
Location: Southeastern England

The Edible Frog appears very similar to the Marsh and the Pool Frog. They can even breed with them, making it hard to differentiate between them.

Few photos from froggin up north last weekend