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South Dakota Frogs and Toads: Pictures & ID Guide

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. All 13 frogs and toads
  2. When they are active
  3. How to report
  4. About this list
  5. Sources

This page lists 13 species: all from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's Amphibians and Reptiles checklist.

All 13 frogs and toads

From A to Z.

American Toad
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
2 to 3.5 inches long (NCWRC: up to 4 inches); females are larger than males.
How to recognize it
  • Dark spots on the back hold only a few large warts; the similar Fowler's toad has three or more. Agencies give different counts for the American toad (TWRA: one or two; Ohio DNR: one, two or three; Georgia DNR: usually no more than one), so wart count alone does not settle it; check the head crests too (see lookalikes).
  • A large, kidney- or bean-shaped parotoid gland behind each eye that usually does not touch the bony ridge (cranial crest) above the eye, or touches it only by a short spur.
  • Enlarged warts on the lower leg.

Full American Toad guide

No confirmed photo of Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

Acris blanchardi

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation
SD Natural Heritage Program Rare Animals list: state rank S2 (imperiled; reviewed 06/27/2017)
No confirmed photo of Boreal Chorus Frog

Boreal Chorus Frog

Pseudacris maculata

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Bullfrog
Photo: Paul Danese · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Not stated

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

Full Bullfrog guide

No confirmed photo of Canadian Toad

Canadian Toad

Anaxyrus hemiophrys

Not stated

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 Cope's Gray Treefrog

Cope's Gray Treefrog

Hyla chrysoscelis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation
SD Natural Heritage Program Rare Animals list: state rank S2 (imperiled; reviewed 06/27/2017)
Gray Treefrog
Photo: Erik Schiff · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

Gray Treefrog

Hyla versicolor

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
Small: body usually 1¼ to 2½ inches long (snout to vent); Tennessee gives 1.25 to 2 inches.
How to recognize it
  • Large white or gray spot below each eye
  • Warty (granular) skin and sticky pads on fingers and toes
  • Bright orange or golden yellow on the underside of each hind leg, shown as a flash color
Conservation
SD Natural Heritage Program Rare Animals list: state rank S2 (imperiled; reviewed 06/27/2017)

Full Gray Treefrog guide

Great Plains Toad
Photo: Fyn Kynd · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized

Great Plains Toad

Anaxyrus cognatus

Not stated

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
Photo: Colin Croft · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
91 records by month.
Plains Leopard Frog
Photo: Sam Kieschnick · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Plains Leopard Frog

Lithobates blairi

Not stated

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 Plains Spadefoot

Plains Spadefoot

Spea bombifrons

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Wood Frog
Photo: Jackson Kusack · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
Adults 1.5 to 2.75 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 3.5 inches; females are larger than males.
How to recognize it
  • Dark eye mask: SREL calls it the only frog in the Southeast with such a facial pattern
  • Distinct ridge of skin (dorsolateral fold) down each side of the back to the groin
  • Call: a rapid, hoarse 'waaaduck' like a quacking duck, repeated three or four times

Full Wood Frog guide

No confirmed photo of Woodhouse's Toad

Woodhouse's Toad

Anaxyrus woodhousii

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

When frogs and toads are active in South Dakota

Records of frogs and toads in South Dakota peak in June to August. They show when people record frogs and toads, not how many there are (about month bars).

288 records of frogs and toads in South Dakota by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

How to report

SDGFP: [email protected] (hunting/fishing and wildlife questions); report a suspected aquatic invasive species with a photo to [email protected]; report a tick photo to SD DOH via the South Dakota Tick Survey; report wildlife violations at 1.888.OVERBAG. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

About this list

The species list comes from Amphibians and Reptiles checklist (SDGFP Wildlife Action Plan website) (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (Wildlife Action Plan website checklists), undated PDF; server Last-Modified 2015-06-15).

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

Want a paper copy? Print the South Dakota frogs and toads ID chart.

Sources

  1. Contact Us. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. Amphibians and Reptiles checklist. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (Wildlife Action Plan website checklists). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  3. SD Least Wanted: Laws and Regulations (aquatic invasive species). South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (sdleastwanted.sd.gov). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “If you catch what you believe is an invasive species, please take a picture of it and send the picture to [email protected].”
  4. 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.