No confirmed photo of African Clawed Frog
African Clawed Frog
Xenopus laevis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
California Frogs and Toads: Pictures & ID Guide
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
This page lists 31 species: all from CWHR Program's Complete List of Amphibian, Reptile, Bird and Mammal Species in California. 5 are nonnative.
All 31 frogs and toads
From A to Z.
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Usually 6 to 8 inches long (NCWRC); can reach 8 inches or more and weigh over 2 pounds (CDFW). Missouri gives 3.5 to 6 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 8.75.
- How to recognize it
- No ridge (dorsolateral fold) down each side of the back
- Large round eardrum: about twice the eye in males, about eye-sized in females
- Fully webbed hind feet, longest toe extends past the webbing
Arroyo Toad
Anaxyrus californicus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Baja California Treefrog
Baja California Treefrog
Pseudacris hypochondriaca
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Black Toad
Anaxyrus exsul
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
California Red-legged Frog
Rana draytonii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
California Treefrog
Pseudacris cadaverina
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Cascades Frog
Cascades Frog
Rana cascadae
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Coastal Tailed Frog
Ascaphus truei
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Columbia Spotted Frog
Columbia Spotted Frog
Rana luteiventris
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Coqui
Eleutherodactylus coqui
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- 1 to 2 inches (HISC; CDFW: average 1 to 2 inches, females slightly larger). USGS: 33 to 57 mm snout to rear, Florida animals slightly smaller.
- How to recognize it
- Loud, whistling "ko-KEE" call of the male, heard at night
- Round body, broad rounded snout and distinct toe pads
- Eyes gold to brown; large toes for climbing and no webbing on the feet
Couch's Spadefoot
Scaphiopus couchii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana boylii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Great Basin Spadefoot
Spea intermontana
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Lowland Leopard Frog
Lowland Leopard Frog
Lithobates yavapaiensis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Northern Red-legged Frog
Rana aurora
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Oregon Spotted Frog
Oregon Spotted Frog
Rana pretiosa
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Pacific Treefrog
Pacific Treefrog
Pseudacris regilla
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Red-spotted Toad
Anaxyrus punctatus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
Lithobates berlandieri
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog
Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog
Rana sierrae
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Sierran Treefrog
Sierran Treefrog
Pseudacris sierra
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Sonoran Desert Toad
Incilius alvarius
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Up to 7.5 inches or more (AZGFD); NPS Saguaro gives 4 to 7.5 inches.
- How to recognize it
- Cranial crests on the head and long glands behind the head and on the hind legs
- Amber eye, with a large oval parotoid gland and round eardrum behind it
- Call is a short, low toot; AZGFD compares it to a ferry boat whistle
Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Rana muscosa
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Western Spadefoot
Spea hammondii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Western Toad
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Woodhouse's Toad
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Yosemite Toad
Yosemite Toad
Anaxyrus canorus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Frogs and Toads people confuse
Sonoran Desert toad or American bullfrog?
Sonoran Desert toad Not stated
American bullfrog Not stated
NPS says it is sometimes mistaken for a bullfrog because of its size and smooth skin. The prominent parotoid glands mark it as a true toad.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When frogs and toads are active in California
Records of frogs and toads in California peak in March to August. They show when people record frogs and toads, not how many there are (about month bars).
How to report
Wildlife conflicts: CDFW Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir, emergencies 9-1-1. Invasive animal sightings: CDFW Invasive Species Program (866) 440-9530 or [email protected]; invasive insects/spiders/terrestrial invertebrates: California Department of Food and Agriculture 1-800-491-1899. California Department of Fish and Wildlife
About this list
The species list comes from Complete List of Amphibian, Reptile, Bird and Mammal Species in California (California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CWHR Program), 2016-05).
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in California.
Want a paper copy? Print the California frogs and toads ID chart.
Sources
- Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Complete List of Amphibian, Reptile, Bird and Mammal Species in California. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CWHR Program). 2016-05 (document dated "May, 2016"; checked November 3, 2026.
- California's Invaders: Common Coqui. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Invasive Species Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Coquis are named after the call of the male, which is a loud, whistling ‘ ko-KEE ’ sound.”
“Eye color of the common coqui ranges from gold to brown. Coquis have large toes for climbing and lack webbing on their feet.”
- California's Invaders: American Bullfrog. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Invasive Species Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Bullfrogs have large eardrums, or tympanum, which are larger in males (twice the size as their eye) than females (same size as their eye).”
- Report an Invasive Species Sighting. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Invasive Species Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“To report a sighting of a known, or suspected invasive species of an animal (mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, aquatic invertebrate) or marine plant, complete and submit the Suspect Invasive Species Sighting Report form below or contact us at (866) 440-9530. / For a known invasive plant, terrestrial invertebrate (worm, beetle, spider, bug, bee, fly, ant, snail, etc.) or plant/tree disease, or one that you suspect may be new to your area of California, contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture at 1-800-491-1899. / [ca-cdfw-hwc] Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) System For Emergencies, call 9-1-1”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.