Amphibians
Florida is home to at least 52 native species of amphibians (Class Amphibia). Many nonnative species also have established breeding populations in the state. Amphibians are intermediate between aquatic fishes and terrestrial reptiles. Most use external fertilization and have aquatic larvae, but adults spend much of their time on land. The order Anura (frogs and toads) can be identified by their unique calls that they use to attract mates. The 15 species of amphibians listed below have been documented to occur in NATL either by formal survey techniques or by informal observations.
Class Amphibia
Family BUFONIDAE | Toads |
Bufo | Toads |
Anaxyrus terrestris | Southern Toad |
Family HYLIDAE | Treefrogs |
Acris | Cricket Frogs |
Acris gryllus dorsalis | Florida Cricket Frog |
Hyla | Treefrogs |
Hyla cinerea | Green Treefrog |
Hyla femoralis | Pine Woods Treefrog |
Hyla squirella | Squirrel Treefrog |
Osteopilus | |
Osteopilus septentrionalis | Cuban Treefrog* |
Pseudacris | Chorus Frogs |
Pseudacris crucifer bartramiana | Southern Spring Peeper |
Pseudacris ocularis | Little Grass Frog |
Family LEPTODACTYLIDAE | Neotropical Frogs |
Eleutherodactylinae | Eleutherodactylus planirostris | Greenhouse Frog |
Family MICROHYLIDAE | Narrowmouth Toads |
Gastrophryne | Narrowmouth Toads |
Gastrophryne carolinensis carolinensis | Eastern Narrowmouth Toad |
Family PELOBATIDAE | Spadefoot Toads |
Scaphiopus | Spadefoot Toads |
Scaphiopus holbrookii holbrookii | Eastern Spadefoot Toad |
Family RANIDAE | True Frogs |
Rana | True Frogs |
Lithobates catesbeiana | Bullfrog |
Lithobates clamitans clamitans | Bronze Frog |
Lithobates sphenocephala | Leopard Frog |
Family AMBYSTOMATIDAE | Mole Salamanders |
Ambystoma talpoideum | Mole Salamander |
Family AMPHIUMIDAE | Amphiumas |
Amphiuma means | Two-toed Amphiuma |
Family SALAMANDRIDAE | Newts |
Notophthalmus | Newts |
Notophthalmus viridescens piaropicola | Peninsula Newt |
* First found in NATL on 16 July 2008