Remember that you should
be
able to identify specimens to family by external morphological characteristics
alone. Do not rely upon coloration characteristics since
these are often bleached out in preserved specimens. Typical coloration
patterns also tend to vary greatly in nature. The following information
was presented in lab at each station.
Anuran families
Connecticut anurans
Families of Frogs and Toads
Know specimens to family level and subfamily anurans. Know
Distribution
and
Representative Forms information contained
in the Anura handout,
even if there are no representative specimens.
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Mesobatrachia
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Neobatrachia
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Neobatrachia |
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Bufonoidea |
Ranoidea |
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Ascaphidae
- males have copulatory organ derived from the cloaca
- lack tympana
- outermost toe thicker than others
Specimens on display:
Ascaphus truei
Leiopelmatidae
No specimens available
Discoglossidae
- small to medium size
- disc-shaped tongue
- pupil vertically elliptical or triangular
- generalized semi-aquatic morphology
Specimens on display:
Alytes sp.
Discoglossus pictus
Bombinatoridae
-
Bombina has toad-like morphology,
Barbourula more aquatic
- distinctive patterns of black or green and bright red, yellow, or orange
on the belly
Specimens on display:
Bombina bombina
Bombina orientalis
Bombina variegata
Pipidae
- aquatic morphology: webbing on back feet and flattened bodies
- pupil is round, eyes small and dorsal, eyelids poorly developed or absent
- hands with long fingers, only webbed in
Hymenochirus and
Pseudhymenochirus
- toes have distinct keratinous claw-like tips
- limbs splayed laterally
- some species have lateral-line system
- lack tongues
Specimens on display:
Pipa pipa
Xenopus laevis
Rhinophrynidae
- morphology adapted for burrowing, resembles North American microhylid
frogs
- well-developed spade present on foot
- robust body
- head pointed with thickened, cornified skin at tip
- small eyes, vertical pupils
- lack tympanum
- tongue is free at the front, protruded from groove at front of mouth
Specimens on display:
Rhinophrynus dorsalis
Pelobatidae
- vertically elliptical pupils
- relatively short-legged
- large metatarsal tubercules on the hind feet for burrowing
- many have tuberculate skin with enlarged parotoid glands on dorsum
- large pectoral glands in
Scaphiopus holbrooki
Specimens on display:
Pelobates fuscus
Scaphiopus couchii
Scaphiopus holbrookii
Spea bombifrons
Spea hammondii
Spea intermontanus
Megophryidae
- large terrestrial or fossorial frogs, similar to Pelobatidae
- very glandular skin, unusual clusters of large granular glands found in
axillary, pectoral, and femoral region in both sexes
- some have fleshy dorsolateral folds
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Megophrys notable for cryptic coloration and disruptive body outlines
-
Megophrys nasuta has projections of skin on snout and over eyes
Specimens on display:
Megophrys nasuta
Pelodytidae
No specimens available
Allophrynidae
No specimens available
Brachycephalidae
No specimens available
Bufonidae
- most have terrestrial morphology, a few have stream or arboreal morphology
- heavy and squat with short legs
- rough skin with conspicuous parotoid glands on head
- skull usually co-ossified with overlying skin
- no teeth
- pupil is horizontal
-
Atelopus has thin body, long legs, and slender toes; lacks tympanum;
some have aposematic coloration
-
Melanophryniscus resembles
Bufo, lacks cranial crests and
parotoid glands
Specimens on display:
Atelopus sp.
Atelopus carrikeri
Atelopus muisca
Bufo sp.
Bufo americanus
Bufo boreas
Bufo bufo
Bufo calamita
Bufo coniferus
Bufo fowleri (Bufo woodhousii fowleri)
Bufo granulosus
Bufo marinus
Bufo paracnemis
Bufo punctatus
Bufo quercicus
Bufo terrestris
Bufo valliceps
Bufo vertebralis
Bufo viridis
Melanophryniscus stelzneri
Centrolenidae
- arboreal morphology
- small and delicate
- pupil horizontal
- terminal phalanges T-shaped with expanded toe-discs
- nearly transparent skin on venter
- males have bony process on humerus
Specimens on display:
Centrolene prosoblepon
Heleophrynidae
No specimens available
Hylidae
- extremely variable in size and appearance, most have arboreal morphology
- most have claw-shaped terminal phalanges with toepads
- at least short webs between toes
- intercalary cartilage present
- many have co-ossification of skin on skull
- pupil horizontal except in phyllomedusines
Subfamily Hylinae
- most with arboreal morphology
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Pseudacris and
Acris are less arboreal, little or no enlargement
of the toes
Specimens on display:
Acris crepitans
Acris gryllus
Duellmanohyla rufioculis
Hyla andersoni
Hyla arenicolor
Hyla aurea
Hyla cinerea
Hyla ebraccata
Hyla femoralis
Hyla gratiosa
Hyla nana
Hyla pseudopuma
Hyla regilla
Hyla squirella
Hyla versicolor
Osteopilus septentrionalis
Phrynohyas venulosa
Pseudacris crucifer
Pseudacris nigrita
Pseudacris ocularis
Pseudacris ornata
Pseudacris triseriata
Pternohyla fodiens
Scinax boulengeri
Scinax fuscovaria
Smilisca baudini
Smilisca phaeota
Smilisca sordida
Subfamily Phyllomedusinae
- large treefrogs
- some have long legs with prehensile, monkey-like feet
- many have conspicuous glands on dorsum
- pupil vertically elliptical
Specimens on display:
Agalychnis callidryas
Agalychnis spurrelii
Pachymedusa dacnicolor
Phyllomedusa lemur
Subfamily Hemiphractinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Pelodryadinae
No specimens available
Leptodactylidae
- very diverse in morphology and size
- webs between toes often greatly reduced
- no intercalary cartilage
- pupil horizontal in most genera
Subfamily Leptodactylidae
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Leptodactylus has typical frog-like appearance, large range in
size
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Rana-like species can be distinguished by having little or no webbing
on hind feet
- in many species males have enlarged forearms and spines on the “thumbs”
or chest
Specimens on display:
Leptodactylus albilabris
Leptodactylus bolivianus
Leptodactylus laticeps
Leptodactylus melanonotus
Leptodactylus mystacinus
Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Physalaemus biligonigerus
Physalaemus pustulosus
Subfamily Ceratophryinae
- squat, toad-like frogs with wide mouths
- some have skin flaps, bony projections, and camouflaging coloration
- large teeth in the upper jaw and bony projections from the lower jaw
Specimens on display:
Ceratophrys ornata
Subfamily Telatobiinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Eleutherodactylinae
- relatively slender with narrow heads, long legs, long toes, enlarged toe
pads, and little or no webbing on feet
- some species like
E. bombifrons are squat and toad-like with short
legs and broad heads
Specimens on display:
Eleutherodactylus biporcaus
Eleutherodactylus bogotensis
Eleutherodactylus bransfordi
Eleutherodactylus bufoniformis
Eleutherodactylus caryophyllaceus
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Eleutherodactylus crassidigitus
Eleutherodactylus cruentus
Eleutherodactylus fleischmanni
Eleutherodactylus melanostictus
Eleutherodactylus ricordii
Eleutherodactylus vocator
Subfamily Cyclorhamphinae
No specimens available
Myobatrachidae
No specimens available
Pseudidae
- highly aquatic, extensive webbing on hind feet, hindlimbs robust
- elongate, ossified intercalary elements
- pupil horizontal, eyes large and protuberant
-
Pseudis paradoxa has tadpole larger than adult
Specimens available:
Pseudis paradoxa
Rhinodermatidae
No specimens available
Sooglossidae
No specimens available
Dendrobatidae
- most are small in size with bright aposematic coloration
- pupil horizontal
- pair of dermal scutes on the dorsal surfaces of the fingers
-
Colostethus cryptically colored
Specimens on display:
Colostethus inguinalis
Colostethus nubicola
Colostethus subpunctatus
Dendrobates sp.
Dendrobates auratus
Arthroleptidae
- generally semi-aquatic morphology
-
Trichobatrachus males have long hair-like skin projections during
the breeding season
Specimens on display:
Arthroleptella hewitti
Trichobatrachus robustus
Hemisotidae
No specimens available
Hyperoliidae
- arboreal and terrestrial morphologies
- most are small
- pupil round, horizontal, or vertically elliptical
- some have toe-discs and claw-shaped terminal phalanges
- some have aposematic coloration
Specimens on display:
Hyperolius rossii
Mantellidae
No specimens available
Microhylidae
- diverse morphology, usually small in size
- body shape varies from squat and small-headed to globular and toad-like
to arboreal morphology with expanded tips of digits
- prominent fold of skin across the head behind the eyes
- pupil of eye horizontal or round in most species
Subfamily Microhylinae
- burrowing morphology, triangular-shaped bodies with narrow heads
Specimens on display:
Gastrophryne carolinensis
Kaloula borealis
Uperodon sp.
Subfamily Breviceptinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Asterophryninae
No specimens available
Subfamily Genophryninae
No specimens available
Subfamily Phrynomerinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Melanobatrachinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Cophylinae
No specimens available
Subfamily Dyscophinae
No specimens available
Ranidae
- size and body form extremely varied
- slender to robust, terrestrial to semi-aquatic morphology
- tongue bicornate at posterior
- pupil horizontal in most species
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Amolops and
Staurois have enlarged toe pads for holding
onto rocks in mountain streams, tadpoles have large sucker mouthparts
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Ceratobranchus is ornamented to resemble a dead leaf
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Palmatorappia has arboreal morphology
Subfamily Raninae
Specimens on display:
Afrana fuscigula
Rana aurora
Rana boylii
Rana cascadia
Rana catesbeiana
Rana clamitans
Rana esculenta
Rana grylio
Rana heckscheri
Rana nigromaculata
Rana palustris
Rana pipiens
Rana pretiosa
Rana ridibunda
Rana septentrionalis
Rana temporaria
Rana virgatipes
Rana warszewitschii
Strongylopus grayi
Subfamily Petropedetinae
No specimens available
Rhacophoridae
- variable in size, arboreal morphology with enlarged toe-discs
- pupil horizontal
- Rhacophorus wardtii has large webs on feet for gliding
Specimens available:
Unidentified species
Connecticut
Frogs and Toads
Be able to identify anurans to genus and species level and be able to sex
them. Also know their taxonomy (family, subfamily). You do not need
to know specific distributions within Connecticut. Know natural history
information given in the Anura handout.
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Pelobatidae |
Bufonidae |
Hylidae |
Ranidae |
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Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern
spadefoot toad)
Family Pelobatidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body broad and thick
- skin relatively smooth
- eyes large and protruding, vertical pupils
- distinct round parotoids
- pectoral glands
- no cranial crests
- distinct tympanum
- fingers with no webbing
- hindlimbs short
- two metatarsal tubercules (spades), outer one larger with cutting edge
(sickle-shaped)
- feet with extensive fleshy webs
Living specimens:
- dorsal color brown, grayish, or greenish
- two yellow stripes forming a lyre- or hourglass-shaped pattern on back
Bufo americanus (American toad)
Family Bufonidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body broad and thick
- skin rough with many warts, 1-3 warts in each dark dorsal spot
- warts on shank often larger than those on thigh
- venter granular
- large protruding eyes with horizontal pupils
- large kidney-shaped (reniform) parotoids behind eyes
- distinct cranial crests, separated from parotoid or connected by spur
- hindlimbs short
- extensive webbing on hind feet
Living specimens:
- dorsal color brown, yellowish, gray, or brick red
- throat of male dark
- venter often mottled or spotted
- light middorsal stripe may be present
Bufo fowleri (Fowler’s toad)
Family Bufonidae
Morphological characteristics:
- similar body shape to
B. americanus
- parotoids touch postorbital ridge of cranial crest, no spur connection
- parotoids oval
- usually 3-6 warts in each dark dorsal spot
- warts on shank not larger than those on thigh
Living specimens:
- color often greenish-gray with distinct dark spots
- venter usually unspotted
- usually light middorsal stripe
Pseudacris crucifer (Spring peeper)
Family Hylidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body narrow and thin
- horizontal pupils
- no parotoids
- hind limbs long
- small round discs on toes
Living specimens:
- tan, grayish, or brownish
- distinct X mark on back
- throat of males dark
Hyla versicolor (Gray treefrog)
Family Hylidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body stout
- skin slightly rough in appearance
- hind limbs long
- round disks on toes
Living specimens:
- color gray or light green (color can change depending on light and temperature)
- pattern resembling lichens on tree bark
- bright orange wash on rear of thighs and groin
- black-bordered light area below eye
- rear of thigh often with a dark bar
- throat of males dark
Rana sylvatica (Wood frog)
Family Ranidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body fairly stout with narrow waist
- hind limbs moderately long
- extensive webbing on hind feet
- no disks on toes
Living specimens:
- color tan, brown, gray, or reddish
- distinct dark “mask” around eyes
Rana pipiens (Leopard frog)
Family Ranidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body elongate with slightly-pointed snout, narrow waist
- limbs long and slender
- skin very smooth
- distinct dorsolateral folds extending from the eye to the pelvic region
and marked with light stripe
- vocal sacs lateral, located between tympanum and arm
Living specimens:
- dorsal color brownish, grayish, or green
- 2-3 rows of irregular rounded dark spots with light borders
- venter white
- snout usually with a spot, light line on upper lip
- throats of males not dark
Rana palustris (Pickerel frog)
Family Ranidae
Morphological characteristics:
- very similar to
R. pipiens
- body elongate with slightly-pointed snout, narrow waist
- limbs long and slender
- skin very smooth
- distinct dorsolateral folds extending from the eye to the pelvic region
and marked with light stripe
- vocal sacs lateral, located between tympanum and arm
Living specimens:
- dark dorsal spots are square and dark-bordered
- spots regularly arranged in two rows down back
- square spots present on sides
- overall color tan or brownish, never green
- orange wash on undersides of legs, in groin, and on sides of venter
Rana clamitans (Green frog)
Family Ranidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body shape similar to other ranids
- stouter than
R. pipiens and
R. palustris
- dorsolateral fold always present, extending from eye to pelvic region
- webbing reaches 2nd joint of 4th toe, does not reach tip of 5th toe
- tympanum of male much larger than eye, tympanum of female same size as
eye
- head is not as wide as
R. catesbeiana
Living specimens:
- dorsal color green or olive, usually with little mottling or spotting
- throats of males bright yellow
Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog)
Family Ranidae
Morphological characteristics:
- body large and heavy
- legs very stout
- no dorsolateral fold along sides of body
- distinct fold from eye curving downward along tympanum
- tympanum of male much larger than eye, tympanum of female same size as
eye
- extensive webbing on hind feet
- hind toe webs indented on both sides of 4th toe, 4th toe extends beyond
web by about one toe segment
Living specimens:
- body color brown or green, variable mottling
- no light spots on lips or light dorsolateral strips
- throats of males bright yellow
Herpetology Home
© 2003 Department of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Connecticut.
