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North Carolina has over 25 different species of frogs and toads, making it a pretty good froggin state.
North Carolina is home to a remarkable diversity of frog and toad species. Over 30 different species of frogs and toads can be found across the varied habitats of the state. From the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plains, North Carolina provides ideal environments for these amphibians to thrive.
In this article we’ll take a look at some of the most common and interesting frog and toad species found in North Carolina. We’ll cover their key identification features habitat preferences, and distribution across the state.
Green Treefrog
The green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) is one of the most widespread and frequently encountered frogs in North Carolina. As their name suggests, green treefrogs are arboreal and can often be spotted perched on vegetation near water. They have the ability to change color from green to brown, helping them camouflage.
Green treefrogs breed in permanent bodies of water across the state. Their distinctive call is a loud, nasal “waak waak.” They can form large breeding choruses, with many males calling at once to attract females.
American Bullfrog
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is North Carolina’s largest frog species, capable of reaching 6 inches long. They have olive green backs marked by brown blotching. Their legs are banded.
Bullfrogs prefer permanent bodies of water with abundant vegetation. They have powerful hind legs that allow them to leap up to 10 feet! Bullfrogs emit a deep, resonant call that carries across wetlands
Southern Leopard Frog
The southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) can be identified by the spots on its back, which resemble a leopard’s. They are variable in color but often have an olive green and brown back marked with distinct rounded dark spots.
These frogs occupy a wide range of wetland habitats across North Carolina. They form explosive breeding choruses in early spring through late summer. Their call sounds like a squeezing balloon.
Fowler’s Toad
Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) can be found across most of North Carolina. They have warty skin and vary from brown, gray, green, or reddish in color. Dark spots with light centers are often present.
These toads breed prolifically, with females laying up to 10,000 eggs in shallow water. Their call is a long, musical trill lasting up to 30 seconds. Fowler’s toads thrive in a variety of habitats from forests to suburban areas.
Pine Woods Treefrog
The pine woods treefrog (Hyla femoralis) inhabits forested wetlands across North Carolina. They are petite, reaching just over an inch long, with a brown or olive green back marked by a darker brown or black stripe.
Males make a unique morse code-like clicking call to attract females. As their name suggests, these treefrogs are closely associated with pine forests. Loss of this habitat is a major threat.
Barking Treefrog
The barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) produces a loud, barking call that carries through swampy areas. They have rough, warty skin ranging from green to brown in color, often with dark marking on their backs.
Barking treefrogs inhabit wooded wetlands and swamps year-round across North Carolina. They are adept climbers but will also burrow into leaf litter to hide from predators.
Spring Peeper
The northern spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is one of the first frogs to start calling in early spring across North Carolina. They are tiny, less than 1.5 inches, with a dark X-shaped marking on their backs.
Spring peepers breed in woodland wetlands and vernal pools. As their name suggests, males make a high-pitched “peep” call that resonates through the night air on warm spring evenings.
Eastern Spadefoot
The eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) spends most of its life underground, emerging to breed after heavy rains. They have vertical pupils and smooth skin that ranges from gray to brown or olive.
Spadefoots inhabit sandy soils throughout eastern North Carolina. They get their name from the spade-like projections on their hind feet used for digging burrows. Their call is a slow series of snores.
Southern Toad
The southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) is a common toad found across North Carolina. They have warty skin that can be gray, brown or reddish with darker spotting. A light stripe runs down the center of the back.
Southern toads breed in shallow waters but otherwise live in terrestrial habitats like forests, fields, and gardens. Males gather in large choruses and call with a high, musical trill lasting up to 30 seconds.
cricket frogs
North Carolina is home to two species of small cricket frogs: northern cricket frogs (Acris crepitans) and southern cricket frogs (Acris gryllus). They resemble each other but can be distinguished by their calls.
Cricket frogs inhabit areas near slow moving water across the state. They get their name from their call, which resembles the chirping of crickets. Cricket frogs feed on insects and spiders.
Pickerel Frog
The pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) is identified by the square-shaped spots on its back. Coloration can be brown, green, or reddish-brown. These frogs secrete a mild toxin from skin glands as a defense.
Pickerel frogs live in wetlands, floodplains, and stream borders across North Carolina. They often partially bury themselves in mud or leaves. Males give a low snore-like call when breeding.
Wood Frog
As their name indicates, wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) inhabit forests across North Carolina. They vary from brown, tan, olive green to almost black. A dark mask-like marking extends from their eyes down their sides.
Wood frogs breed in small wetlands within upland forests. They are freeze-tolerant and can even survive being frozen during winter! In early spring, males make duck-like quacking calls.
Chorus Frogs
North Carolina is home to several species of chorus frogs in the Pseudacris genus. These include spring peepers, upland chorus frogs, southern chorus frogs, and little grass frogs.
Chorus frogs get their name from the way males converge to form boisterous breeding choruses. Though tiny, they have loud, far-carrying calls used to attract females. Habitats range from forests to wetlands.
In Summary
As this overview shows, North Carolina provides excellent amphibian habitat and is home to a remarkable diversity of frogs and toads. Over 30 species can be found across the state, inhabiting all types of wetland, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems.
Getting acquainted with the calls, physical features, and habitat preferences of these species aids in identification. So Grab your boots and flashlight and head out to explore the wonderful world of North Carolina’s frogs and toads!
Ranidae – True Frogs in North Carolina
There are seven species of true frogs in North Carolina. These are your general backyard pond frogs.
Common Name: Gopher FrogScientific Name: Rana capitoLocation: Southern part of North CarolinaBreeding Season: February to April
The Gopher Frog is a medium sized frog that is tan, brown, or dark in color with many black or dark brown spots. They have a raised, thick dorsal ridge that runs down most of their back. Their skin is more warty than most frogs.
The Gopher Frog is listed as an endangered species in the state of North Carolina.
Common Name: American BullfrogScientific Name: Rana catesbeianaLocation: Throughout the stateBreeding Season: April to August
The American Bullfrog is the largest frog in the state. They are found near permanent bodies of water such as large ponds, streams, and lakes. Once the males of the species reach sexual maturity, their throats turn bright yellow. They are very similar to Green Frogs but they don’t have a dorsal ridge down their back. It wraps around their tympanum.
Common Name: Bronze Frog, Green FrogScientific Name: Rana clamitansLocation: Throughout the stateBreeding Season: April to August
The Green Frog is a medium to large sized frog. They can be commonly found near pretty much any water body such as ponds, lakes, or streams. Once the males of the species reach sexual maturity, their throats turn bright yellow. They have an incomplete dorsal ridge down their side.
*Species of Special Concern*
Common Name: River FrogScientific Name: Rana heckscheriLocation: Southern part of the state but hasn’t been seen in 20 yearsBreeding Season: April to August is when they breed in nearby states
The River Frog does not have a dorsal ridge which is a key identification characteristic. Its skin is also a lot more rough and wrinkly than another true frogs.
Common Name: Southern Leopard FrogScientific Name: Rana sphenocephalusLocation: Everywhere besides the western edgeBreeding Season: late winter to early spring
The Southern Leopard Frog is a medium to large sized frog that is brown or green in color with spots over their body. They have a white spot on their tympanum and their dorsal ridge goes straight all the way down their back.
Common Name: Pickeral FrogScientific Name: Rana palustrisLocation: Everywhere besides the coastBreeding Season: February to early April
The Pickerel Frog is a medium to large sized frog. Their dorsal ridge runs down from their eye to their back and inside there is rectangular boxes.
The Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog is a medium sized green or brown frog with dark spots on its body. They have a small, feint spot on their tympanum.
Common Name: Wood FrogScientific Name: Rana sylvaticusLocation: Western edge of the state and Hyde and Tyrrell countiesBreeding Season: Winter mostly during February
The Wood Frog is a small to medium sized frog. They vary in color from brown, silver, or red and they have dark “raccoon” eyes. When winter comes, the Wood Frog can freeze completely solid and then unthaw in spring. After breeding season, they are often found in the woods, far away from any water bodies.
Common Name: Carpenter FrogScientific Name: Rana virgatipesLocation: East coastBreeding Season: Late April to early August
Carpenter Frog is identifiable because of their brown color and two yellow lines that run down their back.
Frogs in North Carolina
North Carolina is home to a rich, variety of frogs from the family Ranidae and Hylidae. We will explore them and how to identify them below.
Early Spring Wildlife of NC: Amphibians Everywhere!
FAQ
What kind of toads are in NC?
The Fowler’s toad is highly variable in color and pattern. It may be brown, tan, gray, olive, greenish or reddish. It is often boldly spotted, and is more likely to have a greenish tint than any of the other three toad species found in North Carolina – the American toad, the southern toad and the oak toad.
Are toads good or bad for your yard?
Yes! Toads make great gardening partners. They help reduce the pest population in your garden and are a valuable organic tool in your arsenal of pest control weapons. Did you know they can eat as many as 10000 mosquitoes during the summer season? But mosquitoes aren’t all they eat.
How do you identify frogs and toads?
Frogs have smooth, moist skin and long, stripy legs and are likely to be found in damp habitats in the garden. Toads have warty skin, golden eyes and prefer to crawl rather than hop; if threatened a toad can puff itself up to appear bigger. Toads can tolerate drier habitats than frogs and spend less time in water.
Does NC have any poisonous frogs?
Frog Fact: Pickerel frogs produce skin secretions that are toxic to many predators. Many collectors have inadvertently killed other amphibians — including toads — by carelessly placing them in a container with a stressed pickerel frog.