Amphibian Families
Each family of amphibians has
characteristics that help us to separate it from other amphibian
families. Look over the pictures of some typical frogs and toads and
salamanders and try to become familiar with the family field marks.
Frogs vs Toads
The frog order is divided into
families. Some of these families are called frogs and some are called
toads. When people think of the difference between frogs and toads, they
are thinking about two of those families, true frogs (water-dwellers
with long legs and slimy skin) and true toads (short and squat
landlubbers with dry, warty skin). But each family, whether frog or
toad, has its own special features.
Northern Leopard Frog
© Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins - CNAAR
True Frogs
True frogs have long legs, webbed hind feet, pointed toes, and,
quite often, ridges along the sides of their backs. Their
eardrums can be very large.
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Arizona Toad © Breck
P. Kent
True Toads
True toads have plump bodies, short legs, dry and warty skin,
and rounded faces with large glands on the sides of their heads.
The glands contain a poison that gets released in the mouth of
any animal that tries to eat a toad. In some species the poison
is strong enough to kill a cat or dog.
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Great Basin Spadefoot
hind foot, showing "spade." © William P. Leonard
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Spadefoot Toads
Spadefoot toads are rather plump, like true toads, but lack the
large poison glands, and have smoothish skin, eyes with
vertical, catlike pupils, and a “spade” on each hind foot.
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Barking Treefrog
foot, showing toe pads. © James H. Robinson
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Treefrogs
Treefrogs are mostly small, with long slender legs and long toes
with big toe pads similar to suction cups. They often have
bright colors on their hind legs and the sides of their bodies.
Most treefrogs can change the color of their bodies to blend in
with their surroundings.
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Tropical Frogs
Tropical frogs are so varied that it is hard to name specific
characteristics to look for. There are hundreds of species in
the world but only a few in North America.
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Greenhouse Frog
© Joseph T. Collins - Photo Researchers, Inc.
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Narrow-mouthed Toads
Narrow-mouthed toads have short legs; broad waists; small,
pointed heads; smooth skin; and a fold of skin at the back of
their heads.
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Eastern Narrow-mouthed
Toad ©
R. D. Bartlett
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Greater Siren
© Jack
Dermid
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Sirens
Sirens are long, slender salamanders that look very much like
eels. They have one pair of small legs just behind the gills,
and no hind legs.
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Jordan’s Salamander ©
Allen Blake Sheldon
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Lungless Salamanders
Lungless salamanders, the largest family, are varied but have
the “typical” salamander shape—long, narrow body and short
legs—a groove from the nostril to the upper lip, and noticeable
costal grooves along the sides. They do not have lungs, but
instead breathe through their skin.
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Mudpuppy © Breck P. Kent
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Mudpuppies
Mudpuppies are salamanders with large bodies, red feathery
gills, shortish tails, and four toes on each foot.
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Three-toed Amphiuma ©
E. R. Degginger - Photo Researchers, Inc.
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Amphiumas
Amphiumas are salamanders that look like eels with four very
small legs. They have one to three toes per foot, depending on
the species.
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Mole
Salamanders
Mole salamanders are thick-bodied with wide heads, obvious
costal grooves on their sides, no nostril-to-lip grooves, and
rounded tails.
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Marbled Salamander
© Jack Dermid
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Hellbenders
Hellbenders are very large salamanders with massive bodies with
folds of loose skin, large, flat heads, and short, thick legs.
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Hellbender © David M. Dennis
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Newts
Newts have rougher skin than most other salamanders and no
noticeable costal grooves. Eastern newts have colorful markings
on their backs; western newts have brightly colored underparts.
Young newts are called efts.
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California Newt © R. D. Bartlett
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