Frogs and Toads
Spring Peeper - Pseudacris crucifer
The spring peeper is one of the smallest frog species in Minnesota. They are from less than one inch to 1 1/2 inches in body length. Ground color varies from gray to different shades of brown. Some specimens appear rust red or orange. Like many other frogs, shade of color is affected by temperature. There is a distinctive dark X on the back. Read More at herpnet.net
Boreal Chorus Frog - Pseudacris maculata
These tiny frogs are probably Minnesota's smallest frogs with a body length of slightly over an inch. The ground color may be varying shades of brown, gray, olive or reddish. There are three relatively wide, longitudinal stripes down the back. These may be broken. The stripes are brown, rusty or greenish. The belly is plain light brown. Read More at herpnet.net
Eastern Gray Treefrog - Hyla versicolor
The eastern gray treefrog is one of two look alike species of treefrog in Minnesota. This species is about 2 3/8 inches long snout to vent. They can change from a bright green to gray (almost brown) in seconds. Unlike most Cope's gray treefrogs, eastern gray treefrogs may have a pattern on their back and these markings are bordered by black. The belly is white and usually unmarked. Read More at herpnet.net
Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis
The Cope's gray treefrog is one of two look alike species of treefrog in Minnesota. This species is about 2 inches long snout to vent. They can change from a bright green to gray (almost brown) in seconds. Unlike many eastern gray treefrogs, Cope's gray treefrogs often do not have a pattern on their backs. If the Cope's does happen to have a pattern on the back, the pattern is usually not bordered by black. Read More at herpnet.net
Northern Cricket Frog - Acris crepitans
This is one of Minnesota's smallest frog species. Adults are from 5/8 to 1 1/2 inches snout to vent length. The ground color is usually brown or gray. There may be green blotches or a mid dorsal stripe that is green, red, orange, or yellow. They are warty for a moist-skinned frog, and have long, powerful legs. They have pads on the ends of their toes, but these are not descernable and they cannot cling to surfaces like treefrogs. Read More at herpnet.net
Canadian Toad - Anaxyrus (=Bufo) hemiophrys
The Canadian toad may get up to 3 inches in body length. It is very similar in appearance to the American toad. Canadian toads are white or light brown with dark spots scattered randomly about the back. These spots may be brown, black, or even reddish and are outlined in white. Each spot contains one to three warts. The belly is light colored and has dark markings, especially on the chest. Read More at herpnet.net
Great Plains Toad- Anaxyrus (=Bufo) cognatus
This is Minnesota's largest toad species reaching 3 1/2 inches in body length. Adults are white, gray, or yellowish with several large oblong spots on the back. These spots, often paired, are gray, brownish, or greenish in color and contain many small warts. Some specimens have a white mid dorsal stripe down the back. The underside is plain white or light colored with no markings. The cranial crests are far apart and touch the roundish partoid glands at the back of the head.
Read More at herpnet.net
American Toad - Anaxyrus (=Bufo) americanus
This is one of Minnesota's best known herp species. Adults are 2 to 3 1/2 inches snout to vent. The ground color is highly variable, but it is usually a shade of brown. Rarely it is gray, red, or greenish. There are black spots on the back. These spots contain one or two warts. These black spots often have a white border. Read More at herpnet.net
Wood Frog - Lithobates (=Rana) sylvaticus
This medium sized frog (2 1/2 inches, body length) presents a bewildering array of variation. There is always a black "mask" over the eyes. The ground color is gray, brown, reddish brown or rust. The back may be plain or mottled with black or brown. A white or light colored middorsal stripe may or may not be present. The belly is light, very rarely with a suffusion of dark mottling. Read More at herpnet.net
Mink Frog - Lithobates (=Rana) septentrionalis
The mink frog is a medium sized frog (about 3 inches body length). The mink frog is green with black spots or mottling. Sometimes, the dark pigment is very invasive; green may only be seen on the head and lips. Usually, however, the dark pigment forms a network or reticulated pattern on the back. The belly is white or yellowish with or without gray markings. Read More at herpnet.net
Northern Leopard Frog - Lithobates (=Rana) pipiens
The leopard frog is the most familiar frog in Minnesota. They may grow to 3 1/2 inches body length. They may be varying shades of green or brown. There are round black spots scattered randomly about the back and on the sides. They belly is plain white. There are two light (sometimes golden) dorsolateral ridges down the back. There are spots on the forelimbs and "tiger stripes" or bars on the hind legs. Read More at herpnet.net
Pickerel Frog - Lithobates (=Rana) palustris
The pickerel frog is a medium sized frog being about 3 inches in body length. Adults are tan or brown (never green) with four to five pairs of squarish brown spots. They have complete light gold dorsolateral ridges down the back. The belly is plain white. There is a distinctive yellowish wash in the groin areas and the thighs. There are brown "tiger stripes" on the hind legs. Read More at herpnet.net
Green Frog - Lithobates (=Rana) clamitans
The green frog is Minnesota's second largest species of frog (only the bullfrog is larger). They may measure 4 inches in body length. They are green or brown with no marking except perhaps some small black dots or dashes. Young green frogs may be heavily spotted. The upper lip is bright green. Read More at herpnet.net
Bullfrog - Lithobates (=Rana) catesbeianus
Bullfrogs were listed as a species of Special Concern due to their limited natural range in Minnesota, however, natural populations have shown little fluctuation and there are now introduced populations. Bullfrogs now have no status in Minnesota.
Read More at herpnet.net