No confirmed photo of Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog
Lithobates kauffeldi
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Virginia Frogs and Toads: Pictures & ID Guide
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
This page lists 28 species: all from DWR's Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia.
All 28 frogs and toads
From A to Z.
Barking Treefrog
Dryophytes gratiosus
- 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 Brimley’s Chorus Frog
Brimley’s Chorus Frog
Pseudacris brimleyi
- 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 Carpenter Frog
Carpenter Frog
Lithobates virgatipes
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Coastal Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius
- 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
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Eastern American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus americanus
- 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.
No confirmed photo of Eastern Cricket Frog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans
- 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 Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Gastrophryne carolinensis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
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Eastern Spadefoot
Scaphiopus holbrookii
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
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Fowler’s Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri
- 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 inches long (Alabama: 2 to 4 inches).
- How to recognize it
- Three or more warts in each of the large dark spots on the back (the American toad has fewer)
- The ridge behind each eye (cranial crest) touches the parotoid gland, with no gap
- A pale stripe usually runs down the middle of the back
Gray Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor
- 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
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
- 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 reach about 2.5 inches: USGS gives 1.25 to 2.5 inches snout to vent. Virginia DWR says up to 2 inches.
- How to recognize it
- Smooth skin
- Prominent toe pads
- Loud nasal call, like cowbells from a distance
Little Grass Frog
Pseudacris ocularis
- 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 Mountain Chorus Frog
Mountain Chorus Frog
Pseudacris brachyphona
- 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 New Jersey Chorus Frog
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Pseudacris kalmi
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
North 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
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North American Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
- 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 Oak Toad
Oak Toad
Anaxyrus quercicus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- About 1.75 to 3 inches long; large females reach about 3.5 inches. Males are smaller than females.
- How to recognize it
- Two rows of square or rectangular dark spots down the back between two light ridges (dorsolateral folds); spots sometimes merge into bars
- Bright yellow or orange on the hidden inner surfaces of the hind legs and groin
- No white spot on the eardrum (tympanum), unlike the southern leopard frog
No confirmed photo of Pine Woods Treefrog
Pine Woods Treefrog
Dryophytes femoralis
- 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 Chorus Frog
Southern Chorus Frog
Pseudacris nigrita
- 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 Cricket Frog
Southern Cricket Frog
Acris gryllus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Southern Toad
Anaxyrus terrestris
- 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 1.6 to 2.9 inches (SREL), with official ranges up to 3.5 inches (Virginia DWR) or 4 inches (Alabama); island populations can reach 4.4 inches. FWC: maximum of about 3 to 4 inches. Females are larger than males.
- How to recognize it
- High ridges (cranial crests) on the head that end in raised knobs in front of the glands behind the eyes, giving a "horned" look. NCWRC: this is the easiest way to tell it from American and Fowler's toads.
- Large, elongated (Alabama: kidney-shaped) parotoid glands behind the eyes; UF/IFAS describes them as small and oval compared with the cane toad's large triangular glands.
- A faint light stripe may run down the middle of the back.
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
- 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 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 1 1/2 inches; males are smaller than females.
- How to recognize it
- Clear, high-pitched peep about once per second; a chorus can sound like small jingle bells
- Adhesive pads on the tips of fingers and toes
- Some individuals have little to no markings
No confirmed photo of Squirrel Treefrog
Squirrel Treefrog
Dryophytes squirellus
- 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 Upland Chorus Frog
Upland Chorus Frog
Pseudacris feriarum
- 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
Lithobates sylvaticus
- 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
Frogs and Toads people confuse
American toad or Fowler's toad?
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American toad Not stated
Fowler's toad Not stated
The difference official sources agree on is at the head: in the American toad the ridge (cranial crest) behind each eye is separate from the parotoid gland or joined to it only by a short spur; in Fowler's toad the two touch. Fowler's toad also has three or more warts in each of the larger dark spots, while the American toad has fewer (TWRA: one or two; Ohio DNR: one, two or three; Georgia DNR: usually no more than one). Fowler's toad has a whitish belly, often with a single dark spot on the chest; the American toad's belly is peppered with dark spots. The two can hybridize, so some toads cannot be told apart.
Fowler's toad or American toad?
Fowler's toad Not stated
American toad Not stated
The difference official sources agree on is at the head: in the American toad the ridge (cranial crest) behind each eye is separate from the parotoid gland or joined to it only by a short spur; in Fowler's toad the two touch. Fowler's toad also has three or more warts in each of the larger dark spots, while the American toad has fewer (TWRA: one or two; Ohio DNR: one, two or three; Georgia DNR: usually no more than one). Fowler's toad has a whitish belly, often with a single dark spot on the chest; the American toad's belly is peppered with dark spots. The two can hybridize, and hybrids have intermediate features.
Fowler's toad or Southern toad?
Fowler's toad Not stated
Southern toad Not stated
The southern toad has larger cranial ridges (crests) on the head. The two may hybridize where their ranges meet.
Fowler's toad or Eastern spadefoot?
Fowler's toad Not stated
Eastern spadefoot Not stated
The eastern spadefoot has no cranial crest and has vertical pupils.
Gray treefrog or Cope's gray treefrog?
Gray treefrog Not stated
No confirmed photo of Cope's gray treefrog
Cope's gray treefrog Not stated
Cannot be told apart by sight. In the field they are told apart by the breeding call (Cope's trill is faster and harsher); in the lab by chromosomes. Location also helps: SREL says only Cope's occurs in Georgia and South Carolina.
Gray treefrog or Green treefrog?
Gray treefrog Not stated
Green treefrog Not stated
The green treefrog is truly green with a light stripe from the upper lip down the side of the body.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When frogs and toads are active in Virginia
Records of frogs and toads in Virginia peak in April to August. They show when people record frogs and toads, not how many there are (about month bars).
- Frogs and toads call in spring and summer, especially during or after rain. Virginia DWR
How to report
Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline (DWR), toll-free 1-855-571-9003 (wildlife problems; feral hog and nutria reports). Northern snakehead catches: DWR 804-367-2925. Rare wildlife sightings: DWR Virginia Rare Animal Observations Form. Imported fire ants outside the quarantine area: VDACS Invasive Species Reporting Tool. Wildlife crimes: [email protected] or 800-237-5712. Virginia DWR
About this list
The species list comes from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia (AMPHIBIANS: Frogs & Toads) (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), May, 2026).
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 Virginia frogs and toads ID chart.
Sources
- List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). May, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
- Problems with Lizards, Frogs, and Toads. Virginia DWR. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The males of these animals will call loudly in groups throughout spring and summer; exact time of year will depend upon the species.”
- Help with Human-Wildlife Conflicts. Virginia DWR. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“If you are experiencing a problem with wildlife, please dial our toll-free wildlife conflict helpline at 1-855-571-9003.”
- 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.