BIOL 477 Species Recognition Quiz 4

Rana heckscheri (River Frog)

~100mm
Very large frog, only surpassed by the bull frog in NC (adults 100mm, tadpoles 159mm)
Brown or olive coloring
Rough wrinkled skin
Light spots on lip and lower jaw
Assumed to be extinct in NC (since 1975)
No dorsolateral ridges

Anaxyrus americanus (American Toad)

50-107mm
Short, broad body wit broad circular snout
Brown, Grey, Olive, or Red Dorsum
Sometimes have light mid-dorsal stripe
Dorsal spots contain 1-2 warts
Large spiny warts on hind legs dorsal surface
Large parotoid gland, connected by a spur to cranial crest

Anaxyrus fowleri (Fowler's Toad)

50-82mm
Brown, olive, or grey dorsum
Light mid-dorsal stripe
Light belly, with 0-1 spot
Large dark spots on dorsum (also contains 3 or more small warts)
Parotoid glands touch cranial crest

Anaxyrus quercicus (Oak Toad)

19-33mm
Prominent white or yellow middorsal stripe
Reddish-orange tubercles on back and bottom of feet
Grey, brown, or nearly black dorsum
4-5 pairs of brown or grey spots on dorsum

Anaxyrus terrestris (Southern Toad)

44-98mm
Club-like knobs on head
Brown, but sometimes red or black dorsum, sometimes with white middorsal stripe
Dorsal spots contain 1 or more warts
Spotted chest

Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern Spadefoot Toad)

Distinct tympana and paratoid glands
Dorsum is usually marked with 2 light bands, showing an hourglass shape
Keratinized digging spade on each hindfoot

Gastrophyrne carolinensis (Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad)

Toe tips are round and tapered, not webbed
Fold of skin across back of head
Stout hind legs, short pointed snouts, and generalized tear-shaped body

Rana capito (Carolina Gopher Frog)

Prominent warts
Ventral surface is heavily marked with dark flecks
Dorsolateral ridges
Irregular dark markings on body

Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog)

Lacks dorsolateral folds and has large tympanums
Well-developed toe webbing
Tip of fourth toe goes beyond webbing

Rana clamitans (Bronze Frog)

Dorsal is variable, brown, bronze, olive to green
Dorsum may have spots and blotches
White venter, side of face is bronze or green
Dorsolateral ridges go partway down the body

Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog)

~55mm
Brown, gray, or reddish coloring
Dark patch "mask" behind the eyes
Dorsolateral ridges that run entire length of the body
Most widespread range of any North American Amphibian
Mostly in the mountains and western part of NC

Rana virgatipes (Carpenter Frog)

~50mm
Brown or bronze in color
4 light stripes down the back/side
No dorsolateral ridges
Venter is white with black mottling

Rana palustris (Pickerel Frog)

Brown, tan, or golden skin with dark spots
Spots on back are squarish
Square spots in two parallel rows on back
Dorsolateral ridges that run entire body
Orange or yellow pigment on the underside of legs
No white dot on the tympanum

Rana sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog)

~75mm
Dark spots on bright green, gold, bronze, or brown skin
Rounded spots
Dorsolateral ridges that run entire body