Arizona is home to lots of cool things, but did you know that it’s actually a hotspot for frogs?
You can find over 26 different species of both frogs and toads throughout the state, so there’s no shortage of amphibious friends for you to discover.
The reason there are so many different frogs and toads in Arizona is that it has such a diverse climate and terrain.
There are mountains, deserts, canyons, and more and the climate is just right for frogs to truly thrive.
If you want to know more about the different kinds of frogs and toads (Also check out Most Weird Frogs And Toads) you can find in Arizona, then you’ve come to the right place!
We’re going to be taking a look at 26 different types of frogs (Also check out Do Frogs Have Hair) and toads you can find.
Once we’re done here, you will be able to go out and look for them yourself!
From the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad all the way to the Baja California Frog, there is plenty of variety when it comes to the types of frogs and toads you’re going to find in Arizona.
We are going to take a look at some of them now, and give you a little bit more information about each of them.
Rio Grande Chirping Frog
The first frog on this list is the Rio Grande Chirping Frog, also known as Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides.
These frogs are quite small, usually being about 2 inches in length and they have a “dark mask” that goes from their eyes to their mouth.
As their name suggests, they are known for their distinct chirping noise which is quite loud!
Great Basin Spadefoot Toad
The Great Basin Spadefoot Toad (Spea intermontana) might look big, but they are actually considered to be a small species of Toad.
They get their name from the spade-like projections on their hind feet, and they can be found all over Arizona.
They range in color from light brown to green, and their preferred habitat is desserts.
You are most likely to come across a Great Basin Spadefoot Toad in the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sonoran Desert.
Plains Spadefoot Toad
The Plains Spadefoot Toad (Spea bombifrons) is a toad that is even smaller than the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, but it has quite similar spade-like projections on its hind foot.
You can find these small toads in the eastern parts of Arizona.
They enjoy water environments, so the best places to find them include near ponds, marshes, streams, and other related bodies of water.
Mexican Spadefoot Toad
The Mexican Spadefoot Toad is usually about 2 to 3 inches long and has a dark brown or black body, as well as a light-colored stripe down its back.
They are very small amphibians that are native to Arizona.
Their typical preferred environment is around sandy areas between rivers and lakes, so you will find them in many of the Arizonian Desserts which include the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave Deserts.
Couch’s Spadefoot Toad
The Couch’s Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus couchii) is another type of small toad that can be found in Arizona.
They are even smaller than the Mexican Spadefoot Toad, usually only reaching a length of 1 to 2 inches long.
They are usually dark skinned and their bodies are also really smooth.
Like most of the other toads and frogs on this list, the Couch’s Spadefoot Toads can usually be found near bodies of water.
They especially love ponds and lakes, and they also enjoy being around grass and plants.
The Couch’s Spadefoot Toad is active during the day, but they tend to avoid direct sunlight.
Lowland Leopard Frog
The Lowland Leopard Frog (Lithobates yavapaiensis) is one of the species of frogs that can be found in Arizona.
These frogs are bigger than most of the toads we have listed so far, being medium in size.
They have a greenish-brown coloration with black spots on their back.
You can find Lowland Leopard Frogs near water sources of all kinds, including ponds, lakes, and streams.
Tarahumara Frog
The Tarahumara Frog (Lithobates tarahumarae) is a frog that can be found in the state of Arizona.
Its natural habitat is streams and plunge pools found in the canyons found in oak and pine-oak woodlands.
The Tarahumara Frog gets its name from the Tarahumara people, who live in the Chihuahua Desert.
They are a small species of frog, with smooth skin that is usually a light green or brown color.
Northern Leopard Frog
The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens or Rana pipiens) is one of the larger frogs that can be found within the state of Arizona.
They can reach up to 4.3inches in length and they have many color variations.
However, the most common color Northern Leopard Frogs are found in green and brown morphs.
Relict Leopard Frog
The Relict Leopard Frog (Lithobates onca) can be found along the Colorado River, in the extreme northwestern area of Arizona.
They are quite small frogs and usually only reach a maximum length of about 2-3 inches.
Relict Leopard Frogs are known for their very distinct appearance, so if you know what to look for, you’ll be able to identify them easily.
They are pale green or yellow in color and have very bold black markings on their back and sides.
They can be found near all sorts of bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, and streams.
Relict Leopard Frogs are quite easy to identify, but they are reclusive species, so they don’t interact with or see humans very often!
American Bullfrog
The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is an aquatic species of frog that are found in marshes, swamps, and any other habitats where it is permanently wet.
They are easily identifiable, being quite large with green smooth skin and protruding tympani- also known as eardrums!
American Bullfrogs are a carnivorous species of frog and their diet mainly consists of insects, small fish, and other invertebrates.
Plains Leopard Frog
The Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi) is a type of spotted frog that is found in the state of Arizona.
They are sometimes referred to as Blair’s Leopard Frog, named after the zoologist Dr. W. Frank Blair.
They are medium in size and come in a variety of colors which include green, brown, yellow, or white.
They also have dark markings on their back and legs.
You can find the Plains Leopard Frog in the Eastern part of Arizona, in grasslands or even prairies.
The Plains Leopard Frog is a nocturnal species of frog, so if you go looking for them in the day, you’re unlikely to find them!
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
The Rio Grande Leopard Frog is a species of frog that can be found in the state of Arizona.
They are sometimes referred to as the Mexican leopard frog too.
This species of frog is another easily identifiable one because of its green and brown coloring, and its leopard-like spots.
A fully grown Rio Grande Leopard Frog can reach between 2.2 to 4.5 inches in length.
Chiricahua Leopard Frog
The Chiricahua Frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis) is a type of medium-sized frog that can be found in the state of Arizona.
They can be identified by their greenish-brown coloration with black spots on their back and a white stripe that runs down the center of their body.
Chiricauhua Frogs are usually found in temperate forests, and they will be found near bodies of water in those habitats such as intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes.
If you want to see one for yourself, one of the most common places you can find them in Arizona is in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Mazatlan Narrow-Mouthed Toad
The Mazatlan Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne mazatlanensis), is a small type of toad that is brightly colored and it is found in the state of Arizona.
Mazatlan Narrow-mouth Toads can usually be found near water. They especially love moist areas such as meadows and gardens.
Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog
The Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog (Smilisca fodiens) is a type of frog that can be found within the open mesquite grassland areas of Arizona.
They are a small species of frog. They are dark in color and they have big eyes. If you are trying to find them, look around rocks and plants!
Canyon Tree Frog
Canyon Tree Frogs (Dryophytes arenicolor) are a species of frogs that are native to Arizona, but they can also be found in New Mexico.
They are small and usually green in color or grey-green. They are usually found in canyons and they are a nocturnal species of frog.
Their bodies are long and slender, and their skin is smooth. They also have wide mouths and large eyes.
The Canyon Tree Frogs are a carnivorous species of frog, with their diet usually consisting of insects and other small animals.
Arizona Tree Frog
The Arizona Tree Frog (Dryophytes wrightorum) is another small type of frog found in the state of Arizona.
Adult Arizona Tree Frogs can reach a maximum of 2 to 3 inches in length.
They usually have a brownish-black stripe down their back and the rest of their body is usually green.
Arizona Tree Frogs are usually found in wet environments such as ponds, lakes, and other wetland areas.
If you are going out looking for one yourself, be aware that they are very good at camouflaging themselves amongst trees, so they are quite difficult to spot!
Boreal Chorus Frog
The Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) is a small species of frog that can be found in Arizona.
Even as an adult, they only reach a length of 2 inches.
Boreal Chorus Frogs can typically be found around permanent bodies of water, especially in cleared land and forest.
They love ponds and streams.
They are green or brown in color and they have a dark stripe that goes all the way down their back.
Like the Arizona Tree Frog, they are especially good at camouflaging in their environment.
Baja California Tree Frog
Baja California Tree Frogs (Pseudacris hypochondriaca) are a small type of frog that usually reach about 2 to 3 inches in length.
Their coloring is usually light green or brown and they have a very distinctive stripe that runs down their back.
They especially love moist environments, so they can usually be found near ponds and streams.
The Baja California Tree Frogs are another species of frog that camouflage with their environment, so they can be quite difficult to find.
Colorado River Toad
The Colorado River Toad (Incilius alvarius) is a type of toad that can be found in the state of Arizona.
They are quite a large type of toad, with some of them reaching up to 6 to 7.5 inches in length!
They are usually brown or green in color and their skin is very smooth.
Like most other toads, the Colorado River Toad can be found near water sources, so you will likely find them near ponds, rivers, and lakes.
As their name would suggest, one of the best places to find them is along the Colorado River.
Colorado River Toads are well known for the psychoactive properties in their skin.
Woodhouse’s Toad
The Woodhouse’s Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) is a small type of toad that can be found in the state of Arizona.
They usually reach about 4 inches in length.
Their location can be quite varied, as they like both the lowlands and foothills of the state.
At both altitudes, they can usually be found close to bodies of water of all kinds.
Sonoran Green Toad
The Sonoran Green Toad (Anaxyrus retiformis) is a green type of toad that can be found near water sources in the state of Arizona.
This type of toad has quite interesting behavior. It is nocturnal and has a long tongue it uses to catch its prey.
Once they catch their prey, they swallow it whole! During the day, they rest in cool damp spots.
Red-Spotted Toad
The Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) can be found in the eastern part of Arizona.
They have a very distinct appearance, having mostly brown skin with amazing red spots all over it.
Arizona Toad
The Arizona Toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) is a type of small brown toad that can be found in Arizona.
They can usually be found around open areas near water, such as fields, deserts, and canyons.
Green Toad
The Green Toad is a small toad with striking green spots that can be found near creeks and other bodies of water in Arizona.
Great Plains Toad
And finally we have the Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus).
They usually reach a length of about 2 to 3 inches and they can be found around various water sources in Arizona.
Conclusion
These are just some of the different types of frogs and toads you can find in Arizona.
Next time you find yourself out in one of these habitats, see if you can spot any of them for yourself!
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