Amphibians Of Florida

Amphibians of FloridaAmphibians of Florida

AmphibiansAmphibians• Moist glandular skin (NO SCALES!)Moist glandular skin (NO SCALES!)• Pass (aquatic) larval stage as youngPass (aquatic) larval stage as young

– Amphibios – From the Greek meaning “living a Amphibios – From the Greek meaning “living a double life”double life”

• Toes without clawsToes without claws• Made up of three Orders: Made up of three Orders:

– Anura Anura (frogs & toads)(frogs & toads)

– Caudata Caudata (salamanders)(salamanders)

– Gymnophiona Gymnophiona (caecilians)(caecilians)

Order AnuraOrder Anura• FROGS!!!!FROGS!!!!• Thick head and body with long, strong legsThick head and body with long, strong legs• Often advertise presence (especially during Often advertise presence (especially during

the breeding season) with a wide range of the breeding season) with a wide range of callscalls

Family BufonidaeFamily Bufonidae

• Toads!Toads!• Have dry, glandular (warty) skinHave dry, glandular (warty) skin• HopHop

Bufo marinusBufo marinus

• EXOTIC! EXOTIC! (South (South America)America)

• Huge sizeHuge size• Skin gland Skin gland

secretions can be secretions can be highly toxichighly toxic

•Marine Toad / Giant Toad / Cane ToadMarine Toad / Giant Toad / Cane Toad

Bufo quercicusBufo quercicus

• Tiny sizeTiny size• Conspicuous, light Conspicuous, light

middorsal stripemiddorsal stripe

• Oak ToadOak Toad

Photo By: J. JensenPhoto By: J. Jensen

Bufo terrestrisBufo terrestris

• Large knobs & high Large knobs & high cranial crestscranial crests

• Extremely abundantExtremely abundant

• Southern ToadSouthern Toad


Photo By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. Blunden

Family HylidaeFamily Hylidae

• Cricket Frogs, Treefrogs & Chorus Frogs!Cricket Frogs, Treefrogs & Chorus Frogs!AcrisAcris Hyla Hyla PseudacrisPseudacris

• Many species have enlarged, round Many species have enlarged, round toepadstoepads

• Mostly relatively small-sizedMostly relatively small-sized• Known for their wide variety of Known for their wide variety of

vocalizationsvocalizations

Acris gryllusAcris gryllus• Small size with slightly Small size with slightly

warty skinwarty skin• Often bright green Y Often bright green Y

between eyes extends between eyes extends down the backdown the back

• In Florida, back of In Florida, back of thigh has two dark thigh has two dark stripesstripes

• Southern Cricket FrogSouthern Cricket Frog

Photo By: W. KnappPhoto By: W. Knapp

Hyla avivocaHyla avivoca

• Greyish overall Greyish overall coloration with white coloration with white spot under eyespot under eye

• Inner sides of thigh Inner sides of thigh with greenish-with greenish-yellowish washyellowish wash

• Similar to but Similar to but smaller than Hyla smaller than Hyla chrysoscelischrysoscelis

• Bird-voiced TreefrogBird-voiced TreefrogPhotos By: W. KnappPhotos By: W. Knapp

Hyla chrysoscelisHyla chrysoscelis

• Greyish overall Greyish overall coloration with white coloration with white spot under the eyespot under the eye

• Inner thighs with Inner thighs with orange – yellow orange – yellow washwash

• Similar to but larger Similar to but larger than Hyla avivocathan Hyla avivoca

• Cope’s Gray TreefrogCope’s Gray TreefrogPhoto By: W. KnappPhoto By: W. Knapp

Hyla cineriaHyla cineria

• Long body shapeLong body shape• Well defined light lateral lineWell defined light lateral line• Many have tiny golden spots on their backsMany have tiny golden spots on their backs

Green TreefrogGreen Treefrog

Photo By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. Blunden

Hyla femoralisHyla femoralis

• Very variable overall Very variable overall coloration coloration (grey, (grey, green, brown, green, brown, patterned, uniform etc)patterned, uniform etc)

• Pine Woods TreefrogPine Woods TreefrogPhotos By: W. KappPhotos By: W. Kapp

•Bright yellow-orange Bright yellow-orange spots on inside of thigh spots on inside of thigh (femoralis….)(femoralis….)


Hyla gratiosaHyla gratiosa

• Large round spots on Large round spots on backback

• Rugose skinRugose skin• Large sizeLarge size• Large toepadsLarge toepads

• Dependent on fishless, Dependent on fishless, ephemeral ponds for ephemeral ponds for breedingbreeding

• Barking TreefrogBarking Treefrog Photo By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. Blunden



Hyla squirrelaHyla squirrela

• Rule out other frogs first!Rule out other frogs first!• Extremely variable Extremely variable

overall colorationoverall coloration• No strong inner thigh No strong inner thigh

markingsmarkings• Extremely common, Extremely common,

even in residential areaseven in residential areas

• Squirrel TreefrogSquirrel Treefrog


Osteopilus septentrionalisOsteopilus septentrionalis

• Introduced speciesIntroduced species• Large!!Large!!• Forehead skin fused to boneForehead skin fused to bone• Usually a yellow wash near Usually a yellow wash near

groingroin• Often found in Often found in

urban/suburban urban/suburban environments, but can also environments, but can also invades natural areasinvades natural areas

• Range is still expanding Range is still expanding northward.northward.

• CubanTreefrogCubanTreefrog

Pseudacris cruciferPseudacris crucifer

• Dark imperfect “X” Dark imperfect “X” marking on backmarking on back

• Pinkish, yellowish, Pinkish, yellowish, brown or grey brown or grey background colorbackground color

• Early winter Early winter breederbreeder

• Spring PeeperSpring Peeper


Pseudacris nigritaPseudacris nigrita

• Three dorsal stripes Three dorsal stripes (tend to break up near groin)(tend to break up near groin)

• Prominent white lip lineProminent white lip line

• Southern Chorus FrogSouthern Chorus Frog

Photo By: W. KappPhoto By: W. Kapp


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Pseudacris ocularisPseudacris ocularis

• Smallest Frog in North Smallest Frog in North AmericaAmerica

• Prominent dark line Prominent dark line through eye (ocularis...)through eye (ocularis...)

• Usually found in small Usually found in small grassy wetlandsgrassy wetlands

• Little Grass FrogLittle Grass Frog


Pseudacris ornataPseudacris ornata

• Black mask-like Black mask-like stripe through eyestripe through eye

• Ornate Chorus FrogOrnate Chorus Frog

•Dark spots on sides & Dark spots on sides & near groinnear groin

Photo By: A. DayPhoto By: A. Day

Family LeptodactylidaeFamily Leptodactylidae

• 1,110 species including 700 in the genus 1,110 species including 700 in the genus Eleutherodactylus (largest vertebrate Eleutherodactylus (largest vertebrate genus)genus)

• Usually smallUsually small

• Mostly TropicalMostly Tropical

Eleutherodactylus planirostrusEleutherodactylus planirostrus

• Introduced speciesIntroduced species• Small terrestrial frogSmall terrestrial frog• Call is very insect likeCall is very insect like• Undergoes Undergoes

metamorphosis in the metamorphosis in the egg (there is no free egg (there is no free swimming larvae)swimming larvae)

• • Greenhouse FrogGreenhouse Frog Photo By: T. BlundenPhoto By: T. Blunden

Family MicrohylidaeFamily Microhylidae

• Narrow-mouthed frogsNarrow-mouthed frogs

(Also known as Sheepfrogs)(Also known as Sheepfrogs)• Characterized by skin fold across back of Characterized by skin fold across back of

headhead• Specialize on beetles, ants & ant lionsSpecialize on beetles, ants & ant lions

Gastrophryne carolinensisGastrophryne carolinensis

• Tiny, pointy head, fat Tiny, pointy head, fat round bodyround body

• Skin fold on back of Skin fold on back of headhead

• Eastern Narrowmouth ToadEastern Narrowmouth Toad


Family PelobatidaeFamily Pelobatidae

• American SpadefootsAmerican Spadefoots• Use single, bladelike spade on back Use single, bladelike spade on back

feet to burrow rapidly down in loose soilfeet to burrow rapidly down in loose soil• Explosive breeders after heavy rainsExplosive breeders after heavy rains

Scaphiophus holbrookiiScaphiophus holbrookii

• Horny black spade Horny black spade on hind footon hind foot

• Vertical pupilVertical pupil• Pale lyre / hourglass Pale lyre / hourglass

shape on dark backshape on dark back

• Eastern Spadefoot ToadEastern Spadefoot Toad




Family RanidaeFamily Ranidae

• True frogs!True frogs!• Typical frogs with long legs, narrow Typical frogs with long legs, narrow

waists and smooth, moist skinwaists and smooth, moist skin• Many have dorsolateral foldsMany have dorsolateral folds• LeapLeap• Found on all continents except Found on all continents except

AntarticaAntartica• Source of culinary frog legsSource of culinary frog legs

Rana capitoRana capito

• Short body, pointy snoutShort body, pointy snout• Light background color Light background color

with large dark spotswith large dark spots• Found in xeric uplandsFound in xeric uplands• Usually uses Gopher Usually uses Gopher

Tortoise burrows as Tortoise burrows as refugiarefugia

• Gopher FrogGopher Frog


Rana catesbianaRana catesbiana

• Mostly plain green or Mostly plain green or brown abovebrown above

• No dorsolateral ridgesNo dorsolateral ridges• Some mottling belowSome mottling below• Webbing on 4Webbing on 4 thth hind hind

toes does not fully toes does not fully extend to tipextend to tip

• Bull FrogBull FrogPhoto By: J. JensenPhoto By: J. Jensen

Photo by T. BlundenPhoto by T. Blunden

Rana clamitansRana clamitans

• Plain brown/bronzy backPlain brown/bronzy back• Incomplete dorsolateral Incomplete dorsolateral

ridgesridges• Center of tympanum Center of tympanum

elevatedelevated

• Green / Bronze FrogGreen / Bronze Frog


Rana grylioRana grylio

• Large, plain frog, very Large, plain frog, very sim. to R. catesbianasim. to R. catesbiana

• Webbing on 4Webbing on 4 thth hind hind toes extends fully to toes extends fully to tiptip

• No dorsolateral ridgesNo dorsolateral ridges

• Pig FrogPig FrogPhoto By: T. LambPhoto By: T. Lamb

Rana heckscheriRana heckscheri

• Large, greenish black Large, greenish black frog with light spots on frog with light spots on the lipsthe lips

• No dorsolateral ridgesNo dorsolateral ridges• Dark below with light Dark below with light

markingsmarkings

• River FrogRiver Frog


Rana sphenocephalaRana sphenocephala• Green or brown frog Green or brown frog

with darker spotswith darker spots• Strong dorsolateral Strong dorsolateral

ridges, often light ridges, often light coloredcolored

• Light spot in center of Light spot in center of tympanumtympanum

• Southern / Florida Leopard FrogSouthern / Florida Leopard Frog

• Called Rana utricularia in Called Rana utricularia in Peterson’s Field GuidePeterson’s Field Guide

Photo By: D. StevensonPhoto By: D. Stevenson

Order CaudataOrder Caudata• SALAMANDERS!!!!SALAMANDERS!!!!• The Americas have more salamanders The Americas have more salamanders

than the rest of the world combined, than the rest of the world combined, and the southeastern US has more and the southeastern US has more salamanders than anywhere else in salamanders than anywhere else in North America.North America.

Family AmbystomatidaeFamily Ambystomatidae

• Mole salamanders!Mole salamanders!• FossorialFossorial• Tend to be stout with large headsTend to be stout with large heads

Ambystoma cingulatumAmbystoma cingulatum• Medium background color Medium background color

with lighter, netlike patternwith lighter, netlike pattern• Rare speciesRare species• Inhabitant of longleaf Inhabitant of longleaf

pine-wiregrass flatwoods pine-wiregrass flatwoods with cypress headswith cypress heads

• Dependent on fishless Dependent on fishless ponds to breedponds to breed

• Flatwoods SalamanderFlatwoods Salamander


Ambystoma talpoidiumAmbystoma talpoidium

• Chunky body with large Chunky body with large headhead

• Dark overall coloration with Dark overall coloration with bluish-grey flecksbluish-grey flecks

• Mole SalamanderMole SalamanderPhotos By: J. JensenPhotos By: J. Jensen

Family AmphiumidaeFamily Amphiumidae

• Eel-likeEel-like• Tiny front AND back legsTiny front AND back legs• No external gillsNo external gills

Amphiuma meansAmphiuma means•Eel-like, LARGEEel-like, LARGE

•Four tiny legs with two Four tiny legs with two toes eachtoes each

•Almost completely Almost completely aquatic, but may move aquatic, but may move overland on extremely overland on extremely wet nights in flooded wet nights in flooded areasareas

•Two-toed Amphiuma, congo eel, Two-toed Amphiuma, congo eel, conger eel, lamper eel, ditch eelconger eel, lamper eel, ditch eel


Photo By: K. SorensonPhoto By: K. Sorenson

Family PlethodontidaeFamily Plethodontidae

• Lungless salamanders!Lungless salamanders!• Respire through the skinRespire through the skin• Tend to be slender with long tailsTend to be slender with long tails• Have a nasolabial grooveHave a nasolabial groove• Found most commonly in areas with Found most commonly in areas with

some kind of running water (streams, some kind of running water (streams, seeps, springs & waterfalls)seeps, springs & waterfalls)

Desmognathus apalachicolaDesmognathus apalachicola

• 10-14 pairs of light, 10-14 pairs of light, often coalescing often coalescing dorsal spots w/ dorsal spots w/ black fringesblack fringes

• Belly pure whiteBelly pure white

• Apalachicola Dusky Apalachicola Dusky SalamanderSalamander

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Desmognathus auriculatusDesmognathus auriculatus

• Dark overallDark overall• Series of “portholes” Series of “portholes”

along sides of body along sides of body and tailand tail

• Associated with Associated with cypress ponds and cypress ponds and stagnant poolsstagnant pools

• Southern Dusky Southern Dusky SalamanderSalamander

Photo by: B. MeansPhoto by: B. Means

Eurycea cirrigeraEurycea cirrigera

• Two dark lines bordering Two dark lines bordering yellowish middorsal yellowish middorsal stripestripe

• Tail longer than bodyTail longer than body• Five toes on hind feetFive toes on hind feet

• Southern Two-lined SalamanderSouthern Two-lined Salamander


Eurycea longicaudaEurycea longicauda

• Three dark stripes Three dark stripes on yellow on yellow backgroundbackground

• Tail longer than Tail longer than bodybody

• Five toes on hind Five toes on hind feetfeet

• Three-lined Salamander Three-lined Salamander

(listed as Eurycea (listed as Eurycea longicauda guttolineatta in longicauda guttolineatta in Peterson’s)Peterson’s)


Eurycea quadridigittataEurycea quadridigittata

• Very tiny sizeVery tiny size• Four toes on hind feetFour toes on hind feet• Three dark stripes on Three dark stripes on

lighter backgroundlighter background

• Dwarf SalamanderDwarf Salamander

Photo By: D. StevensonPhoto By: D. Stevenson

Plethodon grobmaniPlethodon grobmani

• Long, skinny, mostly Long, skinny, mostly black salamander with black salamander with light fleckslight flecks

• Distinct costal groovesDistinct costal grooves

• Southeastern Slimy Salamander Southeastern Slimy Salamander (part of P.glutinosus complex)(part of P.glutinosus complex)

Pseudotriton montanusPseudotriton montanus

• Plain rusty brown color Plain rusty brown color aboveabove

• Pale venter with sparse Pale venter with sparse dark specklesdark speckles

• Eastern / Rusty Mud Salamander Eastern / Rusty Mud Salamander (listed as P. m. floridanus in (listed as P. m. floridanus in guide)guide)

Photo By: W. Van DevenderPhoto By: W. Van Devender

Pseudotriton ruberPseudotriton ruber

• Reddish orange above Reddish orange above with white flecking, esp. with white flecking, esp. concentrated on headconcentrated on head

• Belly pale with many Belly pale with many small black specklessmall black speckles

• Red Salamander Red Salamander

(ours listed as P. r. vioscai in (ours listed as P. r. vioscai in guide)guide)


Family SalamandridaeFamily Salamandridae

• Newts!Newts!• Terrestrial stage with rough, glandular skinTerrestrial stage with rough, glandular skin• Some species may have complicated life Some species may have complicated life

cycles:cycles:

Egg Egg Larva Larva Eft Eft Adult Adult AQUATIC AQUATIC AQUATIC TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC AQUATIC TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC

Notopthalmus perstriatusNotopthalmus perstriatus• Small with rough skinSmall with rough skin• Light colored with dark Light colored with dark

spotsspots• Red dorsolateral stripes Red dorsolateral stripes

(faint on specimen – look hard!)(faint on specimen – look hard!)

• Dependent on fishless Dependent on fishless ponds to breed – RAREponds to breed – RARE

• Striped NewtStriped Newt

Photos By: J. JensenPhotos By: J. Jensen

Notopthamus viridiscensNotopthamus viridiscens

• Small with rough skinSmall with rough skin• Dusky colored with Dusky colored with

lighter orange, yellow, or lighter orange, yellow, or red spotsred spots

• Pale belly with many Pale belly with many dark flecksdark flecks

• Eastern Newt Eastern Newt

Photo By: R. BirkheadPhoto By: R. Birkhead


Family SirenidaeFamily Sirenidae

• Highly aquaticHighly aquatic• Eel-like, but with substantial front legs Eel-like, but with substantial front legs • No hind legsNo hind legs• External, bushy gillsExternal, bushy gills

Siren intermediaSiren intermedia

• NO HIND LIMBS NO HIND LIMBS • Eel-like with bushy gillsEel-like with bushy gills• Large front limbsLarge front limbs• MediumMedium size size• Highly aquaticHighly aquatic

• Lesser SirenLesser Siren


Siren lacertinaSiren lacertina

• Eel-like with Eel-like with bushy bushy gillsgills

• NO HIND LEGSNO HIND LEGS• Large, well developed Large, well developed

front limbsfront limbs• LargeLarge size size• Highly aquaticHighly aquatic

• Greater SirenGreater Siren


Questions?Questions?


Environment

Amphibians Of Florida