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.

There are sbout 6,300 amphibian species worldwide, 292 species in the United States, and at least 23 species in Minnesota.

 

  American bullfrog  
  Photo by Jeff LeClere  

 

Recent Additions

Green frog

   

Green frog (Rana 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 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.

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 frog

Eastern tiger salamander

   

Eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is the largest terrestrial salamander in Minnesota. Adults are usually 6¾ to 8 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.

  eastern tiger salamander

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Northern leopard frog

   
Northern leopard frog (Rana 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.   northern leopard frog

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Boreal chorus frog

   
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.   boreal chorus frog

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Other Recent Additions

pickerel frog (Rana palustris)

Canadian toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys)

Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)

mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)

eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

  mudpuppy

Photo by Jeff LeClere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This list includes only amphibians that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not necessarily all of the amphibians found in Minnesota.

 

Frogs and Toads

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American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

American bullfrog

American toad

Ameroasian treefrog (Dryophytes sp.)

Blanchard’s cricket frog

boreal chorus frog

Canadian toad

Cope’s gray treefrog

gray treefrog

Great Plains toad

green frog

mink frog

northern leopard frog

pickerel frog

spring peeper

wood frog

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American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

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Ameroasian treefrogs (Dryophytes spp.)

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Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi)

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boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)

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Canadian toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys)

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Cope’s gray treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis)

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gray treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor)

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Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)

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green frog (Rana clamitans)

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mink frog (Rana septentrionalis)

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northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

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pickerel frog (Rana palustris)

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spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

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wood frog (Rana sylvatica)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

Salamanders

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barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)

barred tiger salamander

blue-spotted salamander

eastern newt

eastern red-backed salamander

eastern tiger salamander

four-toed salamander

mudpuppy

spotted salamander

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blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

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eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

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eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

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eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

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four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

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mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)

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spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

 

No Species Page Yet?

If you do not see a linked page for an amphibian in the list at left you can still upload a photo or video or report a sighting for that amphibian. Click on one of the buttons below and type in the common name and/or scientific name of the amphibian in your photo, video, or sighting. A new page will be created for that amphibian featuring your contribution.

These buttons not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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