Indiana is home to about 17 species of frogs and toads. Many may look similar in
appearance. Their calls may be confusing as well.
This guide should get you in the right direction with identification. It includes photos,
range maps, descriptions, and audio of calls. You may also check out
INherpatlas.org.
Amphibians need our help now more than ever, as they are most susceptible to pollution and
other environmental challenges. Besides the HHS, there are other organizations dedicated to
the conservation of amphibians. INaturalist.org and
Herpmapper.com are citizen science
friendly herp data collection sites.
FrogwatchUSA is based specifically on amphibians.
With FrogwatchUSA, professionals and
amateurs alike can help to collect data which will help save frogs and toads.
Photos and videos courtesy of Jim Horton and Andrew Hoffman.
Description: Terrestrial; tan, brown, olive or rust or brick colored.
Usually one or two warts in each dark spot. Dark spots are usually brown are
black but some specimens have none. Belly/chest is spotted with dark pigment.
Parotoid gland, large and kidney shaped. May hybridize with Fowler’s toad,
making identification difficult.
Habitat: Many situations, including sparse woodland, urban and rural
areas, grasslands
Reproduction: Breeds from early March to May. Will breed in many water
sources including marshes, temporary ponds, and ditches. Males call with a low
melodious trill which lasts from 6 to 20 seconds. Eggs are laid in strings or
strands with as many as 10, 000 eggs.
Description: Tan, yellowish brown, greenish or light gray with dark
blotches. A light mid-dorsal stripe on back. Usually three or more warts in
each dark spot. Dark spots are usually brown are black but some specimens have
none. Belly/chest is unspotted. Parotoid gland touches cranial ridge on head.
May hybridize with American toad, making identification difficult.
Habitat: Many situations, including sparse or open woodland, urban and
rural areas, rocky hills, areas with sandy soils, grasslands
Reproduction: Breeds from May to June. Will breed in most any water source
including tire ruts, temporary ponds, flooded fields and ditches. Males call with
a nasal waaaah lasting up to 4 seconds. Eggs are laid in strings or strands with
as many as 10, 000 eggs.
Description: Smooth skin with small pink warts on back and sides. Wide
head and short snout, No bony ridges between eyes, small parotids are small
and round, large gold eyes, has vertically elliptical black pupil. Dorsal color
light brown to dark greenish gray with yellowish stripes from eyes to rump.
Habitat: Flooded fields, loose sandy soils in low elevations
Habits: A subterranean species, spending most of its time under the
surface. Black spades beneath the hind feet enable this species to quickly
disappear under the sandy soil.
Reproduction: Breeding is triggered by torrential rainfall anytime in
spring or summer. Males will call with a single loud “whar”. Hundreds of eggs
are adhered to vegetation. Eggs and tadpoles develop rapidly.
Species Status: Common in central and southern Indiana but uncommon in the north
Range: Statewide
Description: Smooth skin with small warts. Background may be tan, light
grey, or green. Some vary in color with neutral backgrounds and patches of rust,
greens on the back and legs. Rear legs usually banded. They often have a v-shape
between the eyes on the head.
Habitat: Shallow edges of creeks, ponds, lakes, swamps, and other
wetlands with aquatic vegetation
Habits: Most active in late spring but may be encountered throughout the
summer months
Diet: Small arachnids, arthropods
Reproduction: Breeding is anytime in late spring and summer. Males will
call with loud series of clicks in and around the edges of water sources. The
call sounds like rocks or marbles being tapped together. Males often call on hot
humid evenings. Hundreds of eggs are adhered to vegetation and soon develop into
tiny tadpoles.
Description: Smooth skin with tan, light grey with 3 stripes running down
the back. Typically, a dark stripe runs from the snout through the eye to the
groin. This species varies in pattern.
Habitat: Meadows, marshes, swamps, and other wetlands with aquatic
vegetation
Habits: Most active in early spring but may be encountered throughout the
summer months. One of the first frogs to emerge and breed for the season.
Diet: Small arachnids, arthropods
Reproduction: Breeding is triggered by the first warm rainfalls of late
winter. Males will gather around flooded fields or other temporary water sources
and call with a loud series of crrreeeeks. The call resembles rubbing a finger
across the teeth of a pocket comb. Hundreds of eggs are adhered to vegetation
and soon develop in to tiny tadpoles.
Reproduction: Breeding is triggered by rainfall anytime in early spring.
Males will call with loud "peeps" from small trees and other vegetation in and
around the pond. Hundreds of eggs are adhered to vegetation. Calls from dozens
of peepers can be deafening.
Range: Statewide, gray treefrog occurs mainly north of Indianapolis while
Cope’s gray tree frog occurs south of the city. The two differ slightly from
calls and DNA.
Description: Light or dark gray, light brown, or green skin with darker
mottling. A distinct light patch below the eye is a good field marking.
Yellow/orange flashing behind and front and rear limbs. Young are typically
green. Large toe pads enable this species to cling to most surfaces.
Habitat: Woodlands are the preferred habitat. This species is common on
houses and other structures during damp evenings or after rainfall in summer.
Habits: These arboreal frogs stay high in the trees throughout summer.
Most active in spring and early summer but may be encountered anytime throughout
the warmer months.
Diet: Arachnids, insects (beetles, moths, etc.)
Call: The gray tree frog call is a melodious bubbling trill lasting two to
four seconds. Cope’s gray tree frog call is a more harsh trill at a faster pulse
rate. Calls from both are repeated at regular intervals.
Reproduction: Activity is triggered by rainfall in late spring. Breeding
occurs in early May in Indiana. Males will call from small trees, man made
structures, and or concealed in other vegetation in and around fishless
temporary ponds. Female deposits eggs on vegetation in ponds and hatch in
midsummer.
Similar Species: Bird-voiced tree frog (Not an Indiana native but occurs
just across the Ohio River in Kentucky)
Range: Restricted to four counties along the Ohio River in Southwest Indiana
Description: A bright green background and smooth skin. A thin white
stripe runs from the lip, below the eye, and along the body to the groin. Some
specimens will have tiny gold spots on the back. Cream to white color on belly
and underside of limbs.
Habitat: Cypress swamplands are the preferred habitat. They are also found
in button bush swamps of southwestern Indiana.
Habits: These are arboreal frogs that frequent bushes, trees, and other
vegetation near water. Most active in spring to mid-summer.
Diet: Arachnids, arthropods (beetles, moths, other flying insects)
Call: A nasal "quaank,quaank,quaank", repeated over and over
Reproduction: Activity is triggered by rainfall in late spring. Breeding
occurs in early May in Indiana. Males will call from small trees, and or
concealed in other vegetation above water in and around fishless temporary
ponds. Female deposits eggs on vegetation in ponds and hatch in midsummer.
Description: Largest frog in Indiana. Usually green or olive background.
Some specimens have reticulated patterns of brown, gray, or rust. Green snout
and cheek. Underside is whitish with darker markings and sometimes, yellowish
tinge. Males have yellow throat and larger tympanum. Ridges occur at eye and
end near tympanum.
Habitat: Large bodies of permanent water. Found at any water source from
lakes, slow rivers, creeks, ponds, or swamps.
Habits: Territorial and often heard in evenings calling at edges of
rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds. This frog may scream in a distress if
frightened or captured.
Diet: This frog will consume anything small enough such as small rodents,
snakes, other amphibians, large insects, crawfish, etc.
Call: A throaty deep “rumm, rumm, rumm. Or ru-ru-ru-ummm. May be described
as “jug-o’-rum”.
Reproduction: Breeds in early summer months. Large tadpoles will spend
two years in ponds before metamorphosis.
Range: Restored grassland/marsh habitat. Spotty distribution in west to
south west Indiana. Recent records from three counties in southeast Indiana.
Description: A large chunky, heavy bodied frog. A light cream background
with dark spots encircled by white boarders throughout. Head wide and legs are
shorter and stocky. Underside is cream white.
Habitat: Prairies, pastures, and meadow situations to wet woodlands and
floodplains.
Habits: Inhabits open areas with chimney crawfish burrows. Utilizes
crawfish burrows during day, as feeding platform, and retreat.
Diet: Feeds on insects (beetles, centipedes, etc.)
Call: A resonant snoring roar "waaaaaaahhhh".
Reproduction: Heavy rainfall and warm temperatures initiate breeding
activity in March to mid-April. Utilizes temporary fishless pools, prairie
wetlands, and shallow ditches as breeding habitat. Males congregate and call
to attract females.
Similar Species: Leopard frogs (slimmer in appearance)
Description: Large green, olive, grayish or brownish. Some darker spots
or mottling may occur but not always. Usually exhibits green to light green
upper lip, sometimes around eyes and mouth. Some individuals have banding on
hind legs. Two dorsal ridges run from the eyes to the hind quarters. Large
males have larger tympanum and yellow throat. Belly is white, usually with
dark mottling and under legs and head.
Habitat: Woodland or open areas. Most any water source from creeks, ponds,
swamps, ditches, or depressions such as tire ruts.
Habits: Often found in and around small creeks at the edge of water or
under stones. One of the most common species in the state.
Diet: This frog will feed on anything small enough and moving (Earthworms,
arachnids, arthropods, etc)
Call: A loud gunk similar to plucking a loose banjo string. The call may
be a series of two or three "gunks" in a row. Frightened or disturbed individuals
will scatter towards the water giving squeaks or chirps.
Reproduction: Breeds in summer months. larger size tadpoles are common in
woodland ponds.
Range: Most of state. Rare in lower Wabash valley, upper prairie regions,
and central portions of state.
Description: A slim bronze, tan background with two rows of square-ish dark
brown patches running dorsally. Otherwise, spots occur throughout. Light colored
dorso-lateral folds run from eyes to back. Belly is cream white. No light spot
on tympanum. Yellow flashing on inside of thigh and groin area. Banding on
legs.
Habitat: Small creeks, cool, spring fed steams. Occasionally found near
caves.
Habits: Will wander into weedy fields in summer. May be found at twilight
of caves.
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates
Call: A light snore lasting about 2 seconds and rising at the end –
"errrraaarrrww"
Reproduction: Breeding takes place throughout April. Males gather at edges
of woodland ponds or pools. Calling may take place under water.
Range: Most of northern section of Indiana extending into southeast
counties
Description: Medium size slender frog. Green to brown background with dark
roundish spots throughout. Spots usually boarded by white. White stripe on upper
lip extends past tympanum. Dorsa lateral folds bright and extend from eye to
back. Usually lacking light spot on tympanum. Legs are banded.
Habitat: Marshes, wet meadows, and other wetlands
Habits: Will wander well away from water into weedy fields in summer.
Found closer to water fall and spring. Superb jumpers that will leap long
distances into water.
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates. Occasionally eats small vertebrates.
Call: A long snore that starts soft and grows louder before trailing off
at the end. Usually followed by chucks and grunts.
Reproduction: Breeding takes place late March and throughout April. Males
gather at edges of marshes and pools where they begin to call. Breeding season
lasts about a week. Female deposits eggs in globular masses on sticks and aquatic
vegetation.
Similar Species: Pickerel frog, other Leopard frog
Description: Medium size slender frog with more pointed snout. Green,
bronze, tan, or olive background or a combination of colors, sometimes with
green on back. Dark roundish spots and few spots on sides. White stripe on
upper lip extends past tympanum. Dorsa lateral folds bright and extend on back
to groin. Usually light spot center of tympanum. Legs are banded.
Habitat: Woodland ponds, small rocky creeks, sloughs, and other wetlands
Habits: Will wander well away from water into weedy fields in summer.
Usually found closer to water but will venture to wet meadows in summer. Able
to leap long distances into water from shoreline.
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates
Call: Short quick chucks repeated several times followed by grunts
Reproduction: Breeding takes place late March and throughout April. Males
gather at edges of marshes and pools where they begin to call. Breeding season
lasts about a week. Female deposits eggs in globular masses on sticks and aquatic
vegetation.
Similar Species: Pickerel frog, other Leopard frog
Range: North western section of Indiana along the Illinois border
Description: Similar to the northern/southern leopard frogs but more stocky
build and shorter head. Background color tan, to brown. Tympanum usually has
white spot in center. White line on upper lip. Light dorsal lateral ridges run
from eye to rear but break up near thigh. These broken ridges are a definite
field marking for this species.
Habitat: Prairie and plains situations, wet meadows and farm ponds
Habits: Usually stays close to water but will wander away from water into
weedy fields in summer
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates (beetles, grasshoppers, etc.)
Call: Two to four throaty chucking notes repeated rapidly -
"chuck-chuck-chuck-chuck"
Reproduction: Breeding takes place in March and into early May. Males call
from edges of marshes and other temporary pools in search of mates. Eggs are
deposited in globular masses on sticks and aquatic vegetation.
Similar Species: Pickerel frog, other Leopard frog
Species Status: Common but not commonly encountered
Range: Found state wide except the northwest sand prairie region
Description: Smooth skin of colors ranging from tan, copper, to pinkish. A
dark brown mask over the eye extends to the tympanum. This is the field marking
for this species. Dorsal lateral folds are present. Legs are lightly banded.
Habitat: Wooded hills and ravines considerably far from water
Habits: In summer they take refuge in rotten logs and fallen leaf litter
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates (earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers,
etc.)
Call: A duck-like quacking repeated
Reproduction: An explosive breeder. Breeding takes place in February-March
in southern Indiana and March-April in the north. Males gather in mass and call
from edges woodland ponds and other temporary pools. Eggs are deposited
communally in large globular masses in one or few parts of the pond.
