This page lists 43 species: all from Herps of Texas, Biodiversity Collections, Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin's Frogs of Texas.
1 is nonnative.
Which frogs and toads can hurt you
Official sources single out these frogs and toads in Texas, in their own words:
Glands produce bufotoxins, which act as neurotoxins (USGS). “…these toads have a pair of large parotoid glands that produce bufotoxins, which act as neurotoxins” USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
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
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.
Missouri Department of Conservation calls both gray treefrogs gray, unlike the green treefrog, but its gray treefrog account says their color may be green to light greenish gray, gray, brown or dark brown, so color alone does not settle it. MDC: gray treefrogs have warty (granular) skin; the green treefrog's back is smooth and a light stripe runs from its upper lip down the side of the body.
Maine IF&W lists the spring peeper's distinguishing characteristics: Maine's smallest frog (about 0.8 to 1.5 inches), grayish- or orangish-brown above with a distinct dark X on the back, and smooth skin; it notes it is commonly confused with the gray treefrog.
Leopard frogs have rounded spots that are not in two neat rows, and no bright yellow-orange on the hidden leg surfaces. The southern leopard frog has a white spot on the eardrum and can be bright green; NCWRC says the pickerel frog is virtually always brown, tan or golden, though TWRA and MSU also list green, so color alone does not settle it.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When frogs and toads are active in Texas
Records of frogs and toads in Texas peak in April to August. They show when people record frogs and toads, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
12,665 records of frogs and toads in Texas by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
The species list comes from Frogs of Texas (Herps of Texas checklist, UT Austin) (Herps of Texas, Biodiversity Collections, Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2020-06-16 (archive capture date; site says distributions based on Dixon 2013 and range extensions through Dec 2012)).
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Mission & Philosophy. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Herps of Texas: Frogs of Texas. Herps of Texas, Biodiversity Collections, Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin. 2020-06-16 (archive capture date; checked November 3, 2026.
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