14 Types of Frogs You Can Spot in Louisiana (With Pictures)

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Louisiana’s swamps, marshes, and forests are bursting with a variety of frog species that really add to the state’s wild, vibrant biodiversity.

From the tiny, striped Cajun Chorus Frog to the hefty American Bullfrog that can reach about 8 inches, Louisiana’s amphibians create a soundtrack for the wetlands.

The state is home to a bunch of native species—Southern Leopard Frog, Pig Frog, and several quirky treefrogs, all thriving in Louisiana’s sticky, unpredictable climate.

These frogs aren’t just background noise—they’re key players in their ecosystems, munching on insects and serving as snacks for bigger animals.

During rainy spells, some species gather in loud, rowdy choruses.

Conservation is getting more urgent for a few, like the Dusky Gopher Frog, as their habitats shrink and the environment keeps changing.

1. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

The American Bullfrog is hands-down one of Louisiana’s largest frog species, and you’ll spot them all over the state in just about any wet spot. These big amphibians are pretty hard to mistake for anything else.

American Bullfrogs usually show off olive green to deep brown or black shades, sometimes with speckled patterns. Males get flashy yellow throats when it’s time to impress, while females stick with a cream-colored look.

They don’t have those skin ridges (dorsolateral folds) you see on some other frogs, which makes it easier to tell them apart from other large frogs in Louisiana.

Bullfrogs are everywhere in Louisiana’s wetlands. You’ll find them in:

Lakes
Ponds
Slow streams
Marshes
Bayous

They’re pretty attached to water—usually hanging out on the shore or floating with just their eyes poking up.

Bullfrogs mostly come alive at night, though you might catch them during the day, too. Their low, booming “jug-o-rum” call is classic, echoing across the water in breeding season.

When it comes to eating, bullfrogs are not picky. They’ll gulp down just about anything they can fit in their mouths, like:

Insects
Fish
Small mammals
Other frogs
Small reptiles
Birds

Their tadpoles take their sweet time—sometimes up to two years—before finally turning into full-grown frogs.

2. Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)

The Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) is kind of a local celebrity—it’s Louisiana’s official state amphibian. These bright green frogs are everywhere, and honestly, it’s hard not to love them.

Green Treefrogs usually reach around 1.5-2.5 inches long. Their neon green color helps them vanish into the leaves, and a lot of them have that crisp white or yellow stripe running down their sides.

They’re fantastic climbers, thanks to their sticky toe pads. If you’ve ever seen a frog hanging out on your window or door at night, odds are it was a Green Treefrog, waiting for bugs to show up at the porch light.

Habitat & Distribution:

Ponds and lakes
Roadside ditches
Canals
Swamps
Neighborhoods

Green Treefrogs are basically everywhere in Louisiana. They love spots with thick vegetation near water.

Their menu is mostly insects and small invertebrates. Oddly enough, they seem to go after the most active bugs, not just the biggest ones—about 90% of what they eat is on the move.

Breeding season gets noisy, with males ringing out a bell-like call that’s impossible to ignore on steamy summer nights.

Fun fact: Green Treefrogs aren’t just Louisiana’s pride—they’re also Georgia’s state amphibian and a favorite among pet owners.

3. Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)

The Southern Leopard Frog is a medium-sized native that’s pretty common across the eastern US. You’ll find them all over Louisiana in a mix of wetland habitats.

They’re named for the wild, irregular dark spots splashed across their backs, looking a bit like a leopard’s coat. Their color ranges from bright green to brown, with a pale belly underneath.

Southern Leopard Frogs can grow to almost 5 inches. They’ve got a pointed snout and those classic raised ridges (dorsolateral folds) down their backs.

Habitat & Distribution:

Marshes and swamps
Ponds and lakes
Wet meadows
Streams and rivers

They don’t have any special conservation status in Louisiana, but they’re a big part of wetland life and show up just about everywhere.

People sometimes still call them Rana sphenocephala, but Lithobates sphenocephalus is the name most herpetologists use now.

Breeding happens in late winter or early spring. Females lay big clusters of eggs attached to underwater plants.

Tadpoles spend a few months in the water before changing into froglets and heading out onto land.

4. Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)

The Pickerel Frog stands out with its quirky, almost doodled square or rectangular spots running in two neat lines down its back.

Named after the pickerel fish (which, oddly enough, was once thought to eat them), adults usually reach 2-3 inches, with females edging out the males in size.

They sport a yellowish or tan base color with brownish spots, but the real surprise is the bright yellow or orange hidden on the insides of their hind legs.

Habitat & Distribution:

Forests by clean streams
Bogs and marshes
Cool, clear water spots
Moist woods

Pickerel Frogs are considered secure (G5) by NatureServe and don’t have any special protection in Louisiana.

One weird thing: their skin oozes a toxic substance that can bother predators—and even other frogs. That makes them one of the few poisonous native frogs on the continent.

Pickerel Frogs breed in spring, with males giving low, grunting calls to attract females. Tadpoles grow up in slow water before heading out as froglets.

In Louisiana, you’ll find them sharing habitats with species like the Pig Frog, Dusky Gopher Frog, and Southern Leopard Frog.

5. Bronze Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

The Bronze Frog is a familiar face in North Louisiana. Elsewhere, folks might call them Green Frogs, but here, their bronze color really stands out—hence the local name.

They’re medium-sized and, honestly, easy to mix up with other frogs. They’re a bit smaller than leopard frogs and a lot smaller than bullfrogs, usually growing to about 3-4 inches.

One thing to look for: Bronze Frogs don’t have the round markings you see on Southern Leopard Frogs. That little detail helps a lot when you’re trying to tell them apart.

This species is native to the eastern US and Canada, and Louisiana is right in their range. They stick close to permanent water.

Habitat Preferences:

Ponds
Lakes
Slow streams
Marshes

Bronze Frogs are doing fine in Louisiana—no special conservation status here, so you’ll see them around pretty often.

They’re one of four true frog species in the Atchafalaya Basin, along with the American Bullfrog, Pig Frog, and Southern Leopard Frog.

They split their time between water and land, depending on their mood or maybe just the weather.

6. Cajun Chorus Frog (Pseudacris fouquettei)

The Cajun Chorus Frog is a small amphibian native to the southeastern United States. It was only recently recognized as distinct from other chorus frogs in the Pseudacris genus. The scientific name “fouquettei” was given after researchers determined it deserved its own spot on the family tree.

These frogs hang out in the southwestern half of Mississippi and southern Louisiana. Their range stretches west through parts of Louisiana, so they really are a regional specialty of the American South.

Cajun Chorus Frogs are in the Tree Frog family (Hylidae), but, funny enough, they usually stick close to the ground. They’re small and pretty good at blending in—easy to miss unless you know what to look for.

Breeding Season: January to May
Conservation Status: No special protection status in Louisiana

The breeding call of male Cajun Chorus Frogs is a pretty classic sound on spring nights. Their chorus is part of that familiar nighttime backdrop in many Louisiana wetlands and wooded spots.

Louisiana conservation efforts don’t list these frogs under any special protection. Still, like a lot of amphibians, they’re not immune to the usual threats—habitat loss and environmental shifts.

They’re considered good indicators of environmental health. Their skin is permeable, so they’re quick to react to changes in their habitat. Scientists often use their populations as a sort of ecosystem checkup.

7. Pinewoods Tree Frog (Hyla femoralis)

The Pinewoods Tree Frog is a small native of the southeastern U.S., Louisiana included. It’s a slender frog with a bit of webbing on its toes and usually measures somewhere between 1 and 1.5 inches long.

Its brownish or gray-green coloring, paired with a dark stripe from nostril to eye, makes it pretty recognizable. If you catch a glimpse of their legs, you might notice yellow or orange spots on the inner thighs—kind of a hidden feature until they stretch out.

Pine woods treefrogs are found across much of the Southeast, from Louisiana to Virginia and down into Florida. In Louisiana, they stick to pine flatwoods and nearby forests.

For most of the year, these frogs are solitary, only gathering up when it’s time to breed. You’ll find them around ponds or other water sources during that time.

The males have a rapid, nasal “kek-kek-kek” call that’s hard to mistake. That’s their way of calling for mates, usually on warm, rainy nights when the mood strikes.

Taxonomically, the Pinewoods Tree Frog belongs to Hylidae. You might see it listed as Hyla femoralis or Dryophytes femoralis depending on the source—taxonomy is always shifting around, isn’t it?

Among the amphibians of Louisiana, these frogs help keep insect numbers in check and also serve as food for bigger critters. They’re a small but important cog in the ecosystem.

8. Cope’s Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

The Cope’s Gray Tree Frog is a fascinating amphibian you’ll find all over Louisiana. Sometimes called the southern gray tree frog, this little climber is well suited for life in the trees.

Here’s something tricky: it looks almost exactly like the Eastern Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor). The only real way to tell them apart is by their calls and chromosome count. Good luck with that in the field.

They’re masters of camouflage, flipping from gray to green to match their surroundings. Handy for hiding among bark and leaves.

Physical Characteristics:

Length: 1-2 inches
Color: Gray to green, depending on mood and environment
Skin: Warty, with yellow on the inner thighs
Eyes: Big and perfect for night hunting

Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs have sticky toe pads that let them scale just about anything. They’re right at home in the treetops.

They mostly eat insects and other small invertebrates, prowling at night with their sharp vision.

During breeding season, the males call with a quick trill to attract females. The sound is shorter and faster than the Eastern Gray’s, if you’re curious.

One wild thing about them—they can survive freezing temps by making their own natural antifreeze. It’s a neat trick that lets them ride out cold snaps without issue.

9. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog is a tiny amphibian native to Louisiana, usually just 1.6-3.8 cm long. They’re among the smallest frogs in the state, and their bumpy backs and smoother bellies make them stand out if you get a close look.

Once lumped in with the Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans), Blanchard’s Cricket Frog was recognized as a separate species back in 1947. Taxonomy never sits still for long, does it?

They’ve got a distinct look—small, dark bodies and long legs that are perfect for those quick, startled leaps.

Conservation Status:

No special protection in Louisiana
Threatened or endangered in some places outside the state

They’re still fairly common in Louisiana. Plenty of naturalists spot them regularly in the right habitats.

Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs stick close to moist spots near water. Look for them at the edges of ponds, lakes, or slow streams, where they hunt tiny insects.

Their name comes from their call, which sounds a lot like tapping two marbles together. It’s especially noticeable during breeding season when the males are calling out for mates.

10. Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

The Spring Peeper is a small chorus frog found all over the eastern U.S. and Canada, including Louisiana. They’re only about an inch long—blink and you’ll miss them.

Spring Peepers are easy to recognize if you know what to look for. They’re tannish-brown with a dark cross on their back, which is where the scientific name “crucifer” (cross-bearer) comes from. That marking is a dead giveaway in the wild.

They’re usually found in woodlands near ponds or swamps, though sometimes they’ll wander into open areas. Good climbers, but honestly, they seem to prefer the ground or staying low on tree trunks.

Spring Peepers are doing fine in Louisiana—no special conservation status, which is always good news.

They can be tough to spot. Even though they hang out on the forest floor or low trunks, their tiny size and coloring make them practically invisible among leaves and debris.

Their chorus of high-pitched peeps is a classic winter breeding sound in Louisiana. When you hear it, you know spring isn’t far off.

11. Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer)

The Gulf Coast Toad is a pretty distinctive amphibian in Louisiana. They grow to about 3-5 inches, so they’re definitely on the larger side for toads here.

You can spot a Gulf Coast Toad by its brown or olive body with yellowish streaks and patches—great for blending in. Their amber eyes and that prominent ridge along the head and spine help set them apart from other toads.

They’re part of the Bufonidae family and the genus Incilius. Sometimes called coastal plains toads, which fits their Gulf of Mexico habitat pretty well.

These toads have a stable population, with a Global Conservation Status Rank of G5. No special protection in Louisiana, since they’re still doing just fine.

They’re common here, but less often seen in Mississippi—mostly in the southwest and along the coast there.

Physical Characteristics:

Length: 3-5 inches
Color: Brown or olive with yellow markings
Eyes: Amber
Ridge: Along head and spine

The Gulf Coast Toad is just one of the many amphibians that call Louisiana’s wetlands and coastal regions home.

12. Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)

The Fowler’s Toad is a small to medium-sized amphibian found in Louisiana. These toads usually reach somewhere between 2 and 3.75 inches in snout-vent length (SVL)—not the tiniest, but definitely not a giant in the amphibian world here.

Fowler’s Toads come in a mix of brown, gray, and olive shades. One thing that stands out is their clean, white underside and a pretty noticeable white stripe down the back—handy for telling them apart from other toads that might look similar at first glance.

They’re pretty common across their range, especially north of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. If you’re looking for them, check sandy areas where they like to burrow.

Physical Characteristics:

Size: 2.00-3.75 inches SVL
Colors: Brown, gray, olive
Underside: White, typically immaculate
Distinctive white stripe

Their call is actually pretty unique—if you’re out during breeding season, that’s often how you’ll notice them. Males call out to attract females, and honestly, it’s kind of charming.

They belong to the genus Anaxyrus (used to be Bufo, if you go back in the books). The official scientific name is Anaxyrus fowleri.

Diet-wise, it’s mostly insects. They help keep pest numbers in check, especially during the warmer months when they’re most active. Breeding usually happens in shallow water, and that’s when you’ll see the most action.

13. Woodhouse’s Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)

Woodhouse’s Toad is a pretty sturdy amphibian from the Bufonidae family. You don’t usually spot them in Louisiana, but they’re a familiar sight in a lot of the central and western U.S.

This species has three recognized subspecies and sometimes hybridizes with American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) when their habitats cross paths. Some features that help you pick them out:

Dry, warty skin
Prominent cranial crests
Light stripe running down the center of the back
Usually brownish or grayish in color

You’ll find Woodhouse’s toads in grasslands, desert shrublands, river valleys, and even farm fields. They seem to like spots with deep soil for burrowing—can’t blame them, really.

Breeding season brings out the males’ distinctive calls. After pairing up, females lay thousands of eggs in shallow water—nature doesn’t mess around with numbers.

The tadpoles are small and black, sometimes with little gold flecks. Their tail fins are clear and rounded, which is kind of neat if you get a close look.

These toads mostly come out at night and feed on insects and small invertebrates. They’re a big help when it comes to pest control, both in wild habitats and around crops.

14. Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

The Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad is a tiny amphibian you’ll find in Louisiana. Oddly enough, it’s not technically a toad—it’s actually a frog. Most of them barely reach an inch and a half long, so you’ve got to look closely to spot one.

They’ve got some quirky features that set them apart. Their heads are small and pointed, totally lacking ear holes, and their bodies are kind of stout with smooth skin. That famously narrow mouth is pretty much their calling card.

Physical Appearance:

Size: 7/8 to 1 ½ inches
Color: Varies from gray to brown, sometimes reddish
Texture: Smooth skin (unlike typical toads)
Head: Small with pointed snout
Special feature: No visible ear holes

The color on these frogs can shift quite a bit—anything from gray to brown, or a reddish tint if you’re lucky. They’ll even change shades depending on where they are or what they’re up to.

Here in Louisiana, they’re a pretty common sight and don’t have any special conservation status. They stick to damp, shady spots and spend their time hunting for insects.

The Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad has some unique traits compared to other local frogs, especially along the coast. Their petite size and that weirdly pointed head make them easy to pick out from the crowd of other amphibians around here.

Lesser Common Toads and Frogs in Louisiana