Minnesota Amphibians
Class Amphibia
Amphibia is the class of animals that is characterized by being cold-blooded; having a backbone (vertebrate); having an aquatic, gill-breathing, larval stage; and having a terrestrial, lung-breathing, adult stage. Ninety percent of amphibian species are frogs.
The Amphibian Species of the World (ASW) database, hosted by American Museum of Natural History, currently lists 8,732 amphibian species. AmphibiaWeb, hosted by University of California Berkeley, lists 8,736 species, of which 7,698 are frogs. There are 592 amphibian genera in 64 subfamilies in 72 families in 3 orders worldwide. There are 292 amphibian species in the United States, and just 22 species in Minnesota.
Higher Taxonomy in Amphibians
The classification of amphibians above the family level is a highly dynamic field, continually refined by modern scientific advancements, particularly genomic analysis and cladistic methodology. This ongoing research means that no single taxonomic system is universally accepted across all digital and academic platforms.
For the most accurate and current representation of amphibian species, MinnesotaSeasons.com now follows the standards set by Amphibian Species of the World (ASW) 6.2, an online reference maintained by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
We recognize that ASW's classification may differ from other sources you encounter, such as ITIS/Catalogue of Life, iNaturalist, or Wikipedia. We choose Amphibian Species of the World because it is the preeminent peer-reviewed authority for global amphibian nomenclature and represents the most rigorous scientific consensus in herpetology.
Standard Common Names for Amphibians and Reptiles
Standardized common names for amphibians and reptiles follow the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico (9th Edition, 2025).
While common names have historically been informal and localized, there is a modern movement toward "Global Standard Names." This initiative aims to ensure that our native species are uniquely identified and distinguishable from similar species on other continents. As a result, you may notice geographic modifiers being added to familiar names—such as North American Bullfrog instead of simply American Bullfrog. These updates represent the most recent peer-reviewed consensus for global consistency in herpetology.
Capitalization of Common Names
Common names of amphibians and reptiles on this site follow the guidelines established by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). SSAR serves as a standardizing body, providing a consensus-based list of “Standard English Names” to facilitate clear communication among researchers and the public.
The SSAR recommends that “Standard English names” of species be capitalized to distinguish them from general descriptions. For example, Green Frog refers specifically to the species Lithobates clamitans, whereas “green frog” could describe any frog that happens to be green in color. This convention ensures precision in communication, treating the official name of the species as a distinct identifier while leaving group names (like “rattlesnakes” or “toads”) in lowercase when used generally.
Recent Additions
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) is a mid-sized true frog, the second largest frog in Minnesota after only the American bullfrog. It is common throughout the eastern United States, less common in Minnesota where it is at the western edge of its range. It is an aquatic frog, found in large marshes, streams, deep ponds, larger lakes, and roadside ditches.
Green Frog is distinguished by the large size; the prominent back ridges (dorsolateral folds); and the fourth toe on the hind foot, which is not webbed beyond the second joint.
Green Frogs are often seen on a shore within one quick leap to a body of water. They hunt by sitting still and waiting for prey to cross their path. The mating call can be heard from May through July. It is usually described as the sound of plucking a loose banjo string, “plunk”. The call is a single note but is often repeated. No other frogs in Minnesota sound similar.
Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is the largest terrestrial salamander in Minnesota. Adults are usually 6¾″ to 8⅝″ in length but have been found as much as 13¾″ long. It is common throughout the state except in the arrowhead region, where it has not been recorded after 1960. It is found in prairies, woodlands, agricultural and residential areas – pretty much everywhere. It is a voracious feeder, eating any animal small enough to be captured and swallowed.
Like all salamanders, Eastern Tiger Salamander is rarely encountered by humans. It is occasionally found in window wells and damp basements, and is sometimes seen above ground at night during and after a rainfall in the spring breeding season.
Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is a slim, medium-sized, widely recognized, true frog. It is widespread and very common, occurring in every county in the state. It is found in woodlands and grasslands, always within about a half mile of a waterway, water body, or wetland. Most adults are green on the back (dorsal surface) with 2 to 4 rows of rounded black spots. However, background color and spotting is variable and there are two distinct color morphs. Some adults have a greenish-brown or brown background. The Burnsi color morph is brown or green with no dorsal spots. The less common Kandiyohi color morph is brown with flecks of white, brown, or black between the spots. Juveniles may have few or no dorsal spots.
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) is one of the smallest frogs in Minnesota. It is found throughout Minnesota in shallow wetlands, shallow parts of lakes, temporary pools, and grasslands near wetlands—always near woodlands. With their short legs they are not very acrobatic and do not climb well. They are the first frogs to appear in spring, emerging in late March or early April when snow and ice may still be present. Males call from when they first emerge to late July. Their distinctive call sounds like a person running their thumb across the fine teeth of a pocket comb.
Other Recent Additions
This list includes only amphibians that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not necessarily all of the amphibians found in Minnesota.
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Frogs and Toads
Acris blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket Frog)
Anaxyrus americanus (American Toad)
Anaxyrus cognatus (Great Plains toad)
Anaxyrus hemiophrys (Canadian Toad)
Dryophytes chrysoscelis (Cope’s Gray Treefrog)
Dryophytes spp. (Holarctic Treefrogs)
Dryophytes versicolor (Gray Treefrog)
Lithobates catesbeianus (North American Bullfrog)
Lithobates clamitans (Green Frog)
Lithobates palustris (Pickerel Frog)
Lithobates pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog)
Lithobates septentrionalis (Mink Frog)
Lithobates sylvaticus (Wood Frog)
Salamanders
No Species Page Yet?
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