Columbia Spotted Frog

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  • Wyoming’s Amphibians 

    • Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)

    • Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)

    • Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

    • Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)

    • American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

    • Wyoming Toad (Anaxyrus baxteri)

    • Western (Boreal) Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)

    • Rocky Mountain (Woodhouse’s) Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)

    • Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)

    • Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)

    • Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana)

    • Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)

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IDENTIFICATION

• Size: 3/4 inch (metamorph) to ~3.9 inches
• Dorsal color: tan to dark olive
• Irregular dark spots, often with light centers
• Dorsal skin has warty texture
• Dorsolateral folds present
• Red to orange lower abdomen and legs (see photo right)
• Breeding males have swollen thumbs
• Mp3 of call (courtesy of Gary Nafis, californiaherps.com; contact Gary for permission to post on other websites)

     

Adult in water photo: Wyoming Game and Fish Department     Photos above: Leuenberger

EGGS & TADPOLES

• Eggs in round cluster (~3 to 8 inches) with up to 2,500 eggs that are dark on top, light below
• Egg masses are free-floating and often in large communal clusters
• Tadpoles dark above with gold or brassy flecks and lighter bellies, often with a metallic sheen
• Tadpoles eyes are medial, anal vent is on the side

    

Egg mass and metamorph photos: Patla

BREEDING HABITAT

Shallow stagnant or slow-moving water ranging from temporary ponds and marshes to lakes and backwater areas of streams.

Photo by Zars

NATIVE RANGE

Map by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database