Frogs and toads of PA: Are there really 17 species? (2024)

Like all amphibian species, populations of frogs and toads have been on the decline for decades. However, 17 species – 14 frogs and 3 toads – are still represented in Pennsylvania.

Some are considered endangered in the state. Some are known in only a handful of counties. Others remain abundant across the entire state.

Compiled by Marcus Schneck.

Bullfrog

The bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is one of the most instantly recognizable amphibians in Pennsylvania. Although numbers of bullfrogs have declined in recent decades, it remains abundant across Pennsylvania, living in and near permanent ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.

With the green frog, it also is one of only two amphibian species with an official fishing/hunting season in Pennsylvania. The two species of frogs may be harvested from July 1-October 31. Just 10 of them (combined species) may be killed daily, and only 20 (combined species) may be held at a time.

The bullfrog is the largest frog species in Pennsylvania, measuring as much as 8 inches in length.

Green frog

Although the green frog (Lithobates clamitans) is only half the size of a bullfrog – 4 inches vs. 8 inches maximum length – it is regularly misidentified as a bullfrog. Apart from their size, the best way to distinguish between the two species lies in the glandular fold, which in the green frog starts at the eye and goes straight down the back but in the bullfrog wraps around the tympanum.

The two species share the same ponds, wetlands, lakes, streams and rivers across Pennsylvania. And, like the bullfrog, the green frog is abundant where it occurs.

The eyes are positioned high on the head.

The tail and tail crest has multiple black blotches.

Wood frog

The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) is one of the more familiar frog species across all of Pennsylvania, largely because of its habit of gathering in vernal pools and ponds for mating in late winter and early spring.

Adult wood frogs are 2-3 inches long, gray brown to dark brown with a darker mask/line across the snout and through the eyes.

It’s found primarily in moist, lowland, deciduous forests, statewide.

Northern leopard frog

The northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens), with its bright green base color and black spots ringed in white or yellow, is Pennsylvania’s most brilliantly colored frog. The 2-5 inch long frog is found throughout the state, but is listed as a species of special concern.

It is a far-ranging species, particularly during the warmer months of the year when it can be found in meadows, field and woodlands far from water. The rest of the year, when it’s not hibernating, the leopard frog inhabits the vegetation around ponds, lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands.

Atlantic Coast leopard frog

The Atlantic Coast leopard frog (Lithobates kauffeldi) is listed as an endangered species in Pennsylvania, where it has been documented in just seven counties in the southeastern corner of the state. Where it does occur, the frog lives in wetlands and along ponds and slow-moving streams and rivers.

Pickerel frog

Sometimes confused with the leopard frog, the pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) is abundant throughout Pennsylvania, where it inhabits forests, fields and meadows. In the spring mating season, pickerel frogs gather at temporary pools in forests and fields.

The pickerel frog is the only poisonous frog native to the U.S. It emits skin secretions that are toxic to some of its predators, such as larger frogs, but more of an irritation to others, including humans.

Eastern American toad

The eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is one of the most instantly recognized amphibians in Pennsylvania, where it is abundant in all 67 counties. It is found in most habitats, near water sources in the spring mating season.

It’s a species that shows up regularly in folklore, most notably for its undeserved reputation for giving warts to humans. That bit of lore arises from the many wart-like protrusions on the toad’s skin and, possibly, the foul-tasting, anti-predator bufotoxin the toad secretes from its parotoid glands when handled.

Fowler's toad

Unusually patterned eastern American toads are regularly misidentified as the Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), which is much less common than the American toad across the state. The Fowler's has warts of nearly equal size on the legs, while the American has warts of different sizes on different parts of the leg. In addition, the Fowler's toad jumps more like a frog rather than hopping like a toad.

It is a species of special concern that generally is found in lowland, open habitat near streams or rivers.

See Also

7 Tree Frogs in Pennsylvania (With Pictures) - Wildlife Informer

Eastern spadefoot

Listed as an endangered species in Pennsylvania, the eastern spadefoot has been documented in a dozen counties in central, southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania. It lives in the floodplains of streams and rivers, where sandy soil is found.

Although the spadefoot’s appearance is unique to the point of avoiding misidentification, its most notable feature is its namesake, enlarged metatarsal tubercle – a hardened protrusion from the heel of the hindfoot – that looks like a black spade.

The tail crest is translucent and moderately well-developed.

Northern spring peeper

Most of us are instantly familiar with the chirping call of the northern spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) that is a hallmark of the spring season. Fewer have seen the tiny – no more than 1.25 inches in length – frog as it clings to side of a tree and sends forth that distinctive call.

Abundant across Pennsylvania, the spring peeper is found in wetlands and in wet woodlands, meadows and fields.

The spring peeper’s tan to dark brown color changes from lighter to darker to better match surrounding vegetation and daylight conditions.

Eastern cricket frog

The eastern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) is a tiny frog with highly variable coloring, ranging from yellow to brown to green, but always with a dark triangle between the eyes. It inhabits slow-moving streams, wetlands and the margins of lakes and ponds, primarily in southeastern and southcentral Pennsylvania.

Adults measure just .5-1.5 inches in length. Its voice is a clicking sound.

It is listed as an endangered species in Pennsylvania.

Eastern gray treefrog

The eastern gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) is abundant in most counties of Pennsylvania, where it inhabits deciduous woodlands near ponds, pools or ditches during most of the year but moves to old fields and meadows for the mating season.

Although it is a small frog, at 1.6-2 inches in length it is large for a treefrog.

Cope's gray treefrog

Confirmed in just a handful of counties in southeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania, the Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) is listed as a species of special concern.

Nearly indistinct physically from the closely related eastern gray treefrog, the Cope’s is distinguishable by its harsher and more repetitious call.

It spends most of the year in deciduous woodlands near ponds, pools or ditches, but moves to old fields and meadows for the mating season.

Upland chorus frog

A species of special concern in Pennsylvania, the upland chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) has been found mostly in southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania. It inhabits woodlands, meadows and wetlands, particularly areas with dense vegetation.

New Jersey chorus frog

The New Jersey chorus frog (Pseudacris kalmi) is an endangered species in Pennsylvania, where it has been documented only in Bucks and Montgomery counties. It lives in wetlands, meadows and woodlands, where there is dense vegetation.

Western chorus frog

The western chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata), found in the western third of Pennsylvania, is a species of special concern in the state. Like the other chorus frogs, it inhabits wetlands, meadows and woodlands with abundant, dense vegetation.

Mountain chorus frog

The mountain chorus frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) is a species of special concern in Pennsylvania. It is found primarily is the southwestern quarter of the state, where it lives in deciduous woodlands. It is not as closely associated with water as most other frogs.

More looks at species of Pennsylvania

• Turtles of Pennsylvania
• Snakes of Pennsylvania
• Ducks of Pennsylvania
• Bass of Pennsylvania