Anura

Question 1

Microhylidae: Gastrophryne carolinensis

Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad

Answer 1

• Transverse fold of skin at back of head
• Teardrop, turtle shaped body with pointed snout
• Variable Body coloration
• Ant/termite specialist

Call: Bleating of a newborn lamb

Question 2

Microhylidae: Gastrophryne carolinensis

Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad

Answer 2

• Transverse fold of skin at back of head
• Teardrop, turtle shaped body with pointed snout
• Variable Body coloration
• Ant/termite specialist

Call: Bleating of a newborn lamb

Question 3

Pelobatidae: Scaphiopus holbrookii

Eastern Spadefoot

Answer 3

• Robust body with short legs
• Vertical pupils
• Large shovel-shaped spades on feet
• Flecked with orange warts; often two light stripes down back

Call: slurred ‘Errrrrrr”, somewhat ducklike

Question 4

Bufonidae: Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

Answer 4

• Dark dorsal spots containing 1-2 warts
• Paratoid gland seperatred from postorbital ridge or connected by a short spur
• Anterior portion of venter darkly mottled

Call: Long, Low trill

Question 5

Bufonidae: Anaxyrus fowleri

Fowler’s Toad

Answer 5

• Dark spots containing 3 or more warts
• Paratoid glands directly connects postorbital ridge
• Anterior portion of venter usually white with single dark spot

Call: Prolonged and rather shrill scream

Question 6

Ranidae: Lithobates catesbeianus

Bullfrog

Answer 6

• No dorsolateral ridge; Fold runs around tympanum
• Males smaller, but with tympanum larger than eye
• Dorsal coloration variable
• Base of the froglike industry

Call: deep Jug-o-rum

Question 7

Ranidae: Lithobates sylvaticus

Wood Frog

Answer 7

• Tan with chocolate mask, white line above lip
• Occurs north of the Artic Circle, survives winter by producing antifreeze
• Earliest breeding frog in KY

Call: Clucks interspersed with groans

Question 8

Ranidae: Lithobates clamitans

Green Frog, Bronze frog

Answer 8

Dorsolateral ridge curving around tympanum and down back, but not down the groin

• Males with tympanum larger than eye
• Variable coloring (brown/green/bronze)

Call: Short glunks, like a banko being plucked

Question 9

Ranidae: Lithobates areolatus

Crawfish Frog

Answer 9

• Dark brown spots encircled with white lines
• Prominent dorsolateral folds compared to many other ranids
• Frquently lives as commensal in crawfish burrows in prairies and pastures

Call: Deep snoring Waaaaa

Question 10

Ranidae: Lithobates palustris

Pickerel Frog

Answer 10

• White line on upper jaw, dorsal spots rectangualr and arranged in two rows
• Yellow/orange/apricot-colored flash coloration in groin
• Nose rounded, dorsolateral ridges extend to groin

Call: Descending snore Yeeowwwww

Question 11

Ranidae: Lithobates sphenocephalus

Southern Leopard Frog

Answer 11

• Dorsal spots not rectangular, usually not in straight rows
• White spot in center of tympanum
• Nose sharply pointed, usually not spot on snout, color variable

Call: Cluks with groans, like a hand being rubbed over a balloon

Question 12

Ranidae: Lithobates pipiens

Northern Leopard Frog

Answer 12

• Dorsal spots dark with light outline; not rectangular, usually not in straight rows
• No white spot in center of tympanum
• Nose more rounded, usually spot on snout, color variable

Call: Low guttural, snore like rattle