A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California
Identifying California Frogs and Toads:
The Most Likely Candidates
Click on a picture for a larger view
California Frogs and Toads: |
| Based on the requests I've received over the years asking me to identify a frog or a toad, the three most commonly seen frogs and toads found in the more populous areas of the state are those shown below. Most likely, the frog or toad you want to identify is one of these. (Keep in mind that they all are variable in size and appearance.) Click on the links to see more pictures and a description of the frog. If the frog you want to identify does not match those below, you can try identifying if from some more detailed frog identification information found on this page. |
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| California Toad |
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Adults are large - up to 5 inches from snout to vent. Found in many habitats - on land, on trees and shrubs, and in water. |
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| Light stripe in middle of back | Warty Skin | Long glands behind eyes |
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| California Toads are found in the red areas on the map. | ||
| Pacific Treefrog |
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The species has been separated into three species that all look the same, two of which are shown below. Use the range map below to determine which one is in your area. |
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Adults of both species are small - 1 to 2 inches long from snout to vent. Found in many habitats, on land and in water. |
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| Enlarged toe tips | Dark stripe through eye | Babies are tiny |
| Baja California Treefrog | ||
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| Color and pattern are variable | ||
| Sierran Treefrog | ||
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| Color and pattern are variable | ||
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Orange: Sierran Treefrog |
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| American Bullfrog |
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Adults are large - up to 8 inches long from snout to vent. Found mostly in and around permanent water sources. |
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| Large webbed toes on back feet | Front toes do not have large pads | Tadpoles are very large |
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| Color and pattern are variable - females and juveniles have lots of dark markings | ||
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| American Bullfrogs are found in the red areas on the map. | ||
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