There are various types of frogs in Alabama in quite large numbers. As frogs rush to reproduce before the onset of winter, one can hear their croaks echoing throughout the night sky during the spring and summer months.
The majority of Alabama’s frogs reside in wet habitats, where they have an easier time preventing their skin from drying out and becoming brittle. However, several species might take you by surprise.
In Alabama, no frogs are truly dangerous. Although one species is poisonous, to experience its effects, you would have to consume it.
The average person will not be impacted by their poison because it is primarily designed to deter predators from eating them in the first place.
There is no need for concern on your part, provided that you are not randomly consuming frogs. In this piece, we’ll look at 22 different types of frogs in Alabama.
1. Little Grass Frog
The name accurately describes the size of these amphibians, which is quite tiny. They are available in a wide variety of hues, ranging from brown to red to gray and everything in between.
They also have a distinct dark stripe that runs from their nose down their sides. One can find this stripe anywhere on their body.
Nevertheless, their diminutive stature is, without a doubt, the defining attribute of this species. People frequently misidentify this specie as the juvenile form of other species of frogs.
These types of frogs in Alabama favor grassy marshes and open places with similar terrain. It is also possible for them to call pine flatlands, cypress ponds, and savannas their home.
2. Ornate Chorus Frog
Although chorus frogs are rather common, this specific species is not very common. They are currently facing a moderate threat to conservation efforts.
They come in a wide variety of hues, including as dark brown, vivid red, and emerald green. It is not possible to accurately identify them based on their appearance alone.
Even though they all have bold dark stripes along the length of their flanks, these stripes can seem somewhat different from one individual to the next. Some will have a gray triangle on the top of their head, located in the middle of their eyes.
They thrive in transitory marshes, pinewoods, and other habitats that are comparable to those. The typical breeding grounds for these animals are damp meadows, ditches, and barrow pits.
3. Green Frog
These frogs are quite large but pretty slender despite their size. Their skin is usually a vivid shade of green and is very smooth.
Some of them have a yellow or green tinge. It is simple to recognize them because of the two noticeable white stripes that run down either side of their body.
These types of frogs in Alabama are most comfortable in wet and damp environments, such as swamps, lakes, and streams. They stay hidden throughout the day in dark, damp locations close to bodies of water.
4. Barking Treefrog
This treefrog species is on the larger side, especially for its genus. They also have a lot of fat, which contributes to the impression that they are much bigger than they are.
The temperature and the surroundings both have an effect on the variety of colors that they exhibit. They have spots, but you might not notice them depending on the light.
These frogs can climb and burrow, giving them a distinct advantage. They inhabit many ecosystems, including farmlands, pastures, and forests, and you can find them in all of these places.
They spend most of the summer in the branches of the trees, but during the winter, they travel underground in search of warmer environments.
5. Gopher Frog
In a strict sense, this term can apply to a couple of different species. On the other hand, they have some similarities.
Both species are critically endangered and hard to find within the state. Efforts are being made to preserve their environment.
They favor areas of woodland that have sandy soil. These frogs spend most of their time on land, but in order to reproduce, they need to be in remote wetland areas.
They frequently go far away from their mating grounds and return much later. They consume insects and other small animals.
6. Pig Frog
The length of these green frogs can sometimes reach up to six inches, making them rather enormous. They feature a sharp point on their nose and webbed feet.
In comparison to the snouts of other species, theirs is particularly different. Their eardrums are extremely visible and very huge.
They are most comfortable in areas of water surrounded by vegetation, such as ponds, lakes, and marshes. River swamps are another possible habitat to find them in.
7. Southern Leopard Frog
These types of frogs in Alabama come in a wide range of colors, but as their name suggests, they all have spots on their bodies.
They have pointed heads and ridges that are a lighter hue, and their bodies are long and relatively slender. The Southern
Leopard Frog has a light color line on the upper part of its mouth, and its eardrums are also light in color.
These frogs are most at home in freshwater environments and spend most of their lives in or near them. They live in water, but they could wander away from their pond when they look for food.
8. Wood Frog
This species is rare. Their range does not go beyond the immediate area, and scientists believe they are experiencing a precipitous decline.
Their dark facial masks set them apart from other frog species, allowing easy identification. However, the hue of their bodies can vary quite a bit among individuals.
These tough frogs can survive at freezing temperatures. The northern regions have a higher incidence of them, even though their range in Alabama is restricted.
Because there is little information about their situation, they may no longer be in this state.
9. Pickerel Frog
The only species of poisonous frog found in the United States is the pickerel frog. It ranges in color from gray to light brown and has conspicuous dark dots spread out in two rows across its back.
They have a little spot directly over each eye and typically a spot on the top of their nose. People and other creatures may find that the skin secretions produced by this species irritate their skin.
In most instances, however, they do not pose a fatal threat. Your risk of experiencing unfavorable aftereffects is extremely low unless you consume the frog.
10. Northern Cricket Frog
The name of this little frog comes from the fact that its cry is similar to a cricket’s sound. The colors range from gray to green to brown across all of them.
While some have a vibrant color palette, others have a more subdued one. The underside of their bodies is either white or a lighter tint.
In contrast to most species of frogs, this particular species is more active during the day. They inhabit aquatic environments, such as ponds, lakes, and streams, among other similar places.
11. Pine Barrens Treefrog
Typically, the color of these types of frogs in Alabama is a pale green. In less-than-ideal situations, they can turn a shade of dark olive.
The hue of their bellies is frequently lighter. The primary characteristic that sets them apart from other similar species is a horizontal band of a dark brown color that runs along each side of their bodies.
The frogs’ toe pads are visibly rounded and have a very fat overall appearance.
12. Birdvoiced Treefrog
This species is notably slender and delicate in appearance. They are smaller than the majority of tree frogs. However, females tend to be larger than males.
In general, they have a brown, gray, or green color. The surroundings and the amount of stress they are under can often cause them to change color.
They make their homes on the shores of lakes and river valleys. These frogs are opportunistic feeders and ingest largely spiders and other tiny insects as their primary food source.
They are active at night and spend most of their time in the branches of trees.
13. Cope’s Gray Treefrog
This tree frog spends much of its time walking and climbing rather than leaping from place to place. They can scale virtually any surface because of the adhesive discs attached to the tips of their toes.
The shades of gray that make up their appearance range from mild to dark. However, some of them have a more brownish or greenish tone.
They are distinguishable from many other types of frogs in Alabama due to the brilliant orange color of their thighs. They are active at night and like to hang around in marshes and other forested areas.
14. Pine Woods Treefrog
The coloration of these little, skinny frogs can range from brown to reddish, while it is also possible for them to be gray or green.
They may alter their appearance to reflect the temperature and atmosphere around them. Frogs that are under stress tend to have duller appearances.
These tree frogs can be found in pine forests most of the time. They can also populate open places, mainly when a pine forest is nearby.
They will stay at the pools and wetlands for an extended period to breed. Because reproduction cannot occur in areas containing fish, breeding occurs in wetlands and tiny pools.
15. Northern Southern Peeper
The Northern Southern Peeper is often brown, much like other types of frogs in Alabama that we’ve covered. On their backs is a distinguishing marking in the shape of an “X” that is dark in color, making it possible to recognize them.
It is during the breeding season that one is most likely to see these frogs because it is when they congregate around ponds. They stay hidden in damp, forested locations throughout the rest of the year.
This species emerges sooner than most others and is typically one of the first to make its presence known. They could start singing as early as January if they wanted to.
16. Upland Chorus Frog
The Upland Chorus frog can have a variety of colors, ranging from brown to gray. They have a dark stripe that runs down their back, beginning at the end of their nose and continuing to the base of their tail.
In addition, there is a dark triangle in the space between their eyes. Because of these marks, one can easily distinguish them from other species.
This species is active at night and like to hang out in grassy places. They also call marshes and wooded areas with a damp climate home.
During the time of year when they try to reproduce, they will go to various fields and forests in search of temporary pools.
17. Southern Chorus Frog
These frogs spend most of their time in the pine forests and sandhills. For breeding purposes, they choose sandy soil and bays over other types of terrain.
They might even employ man-made ditches for this particular reason. Aside from that, they spend time concealing themselves in caverns and beneath debris.
Because of the way their three dark stripes, which run down their back, are split up into patches, this species is very easy to recognize.
They appear to have warts because their skin has tiny bumps that give them that appearance.
18. American Green Tree Frog
The American green tree frog is a tiny amphibian with a vivid green coloration. They are most common in Alabama, though they are prevalent throughout the eastern United States.
The natural color of these types of frogs in Alabama, which can range from a bright green to an almost black appearance, is where their name comes from. They are black with a white stripe that runs along the sides of their bodies.
19. Squirrel Tree Frog
Small and green in color, the squirrel tree frog is an amphibian native to Alabama and may be found all around the state.
The fact that these frogs spend most of their lives living in trees and feeding on insects led to the naming of the species as tree frogs.
The average length of a squirrel tree frog is between two and three inches, and they have a wide variety of vocalizations that they employ to interact with one another.
20. Southern Cricket Frog
One of Alabama’s tiniest types of frogs is called the Southern Cricket Frog. Its length can range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, making it one of the smallest frogs in the state.
They frequently have dark patches on their backs and sides, and their bodies are usually a light green or gray tint.
Most of Alabama is home to this frog species, inhabiting wet and dry areas close to water bodies such as ponds, marshes, and streams.
They are mostly active at night, although you might catch a glimpse of one during the day if you look carefully under some leaves or other debris.
21. River Frog
The coastal plains region of Alabama is the only place in Alabama where river frogs reside because their range is so restricted there.
They inhabit environments characterized by dark water and spend much of their time in the water. Because they are nocturnal, their sightings during the day are uncommon.
Even the tadpoles of this species of frog can grow to be up to 5 inches long. This frog species is quite huge.
The months of April through August are for breeding. You can hear a low-pitched roaring sound coming from them throughout this period, which is their call.
River frogs can range in color from light green to dark green to almost black. They have a mottled pattern on their backs in addition to having dark stripes on their legs.
There is a strong resemblance between this species and bullfrogs and pig frogs. The skin of the river frog is rough and wrinkled in appearance. Their eyes are a vivid shade of red, while their bellies are a light yellow color.
These types of frogs in Alabama can defend themselves from predators by pretending to be dead and emitting a foul odor. The largemouth bass, water snakes, and birds are all known to prey on this species.
There have been reports that certain animals vomit after eating a river frog, which suggests that their skin may contain a toxic chemical.
The population of river frogs is robust, although they are suffering a marginal decline in number due to the degradation of their habitat.
22. Crawfish Frog
The grasslands and plains are the natural habitats of crawfish frogs. Their name comes from the fact that they frequently seek refuge in the tunnels dug by crayfish. They bury themselves and spend most of their time there.
During the spring, breeding takes place on days when it rains. These types of frogs in Alabama have a significant population in Sumter County.
During the breeding season, they are most prevalent in fish-free wetlands, ponds, and other bodies of water.
This species is about the size of a rabbit and can have a variety of colors, from brown to yellow. They have some dark spots on their back as well as on their legs. There is visible evidence of skin folds and an exposed eardrum on their sides.
Because they can never be located too far from their burrow, they rely on it as a haven while a predator is pursuing them. They will consume insects and other small invertebrates that come in contact with their burrow.
The crawfish frog is a species that is experiencing a population decline and is close to being declared an endangered species. In some of the regions they once called home, they have been entirely extinct.
