Frogs and Toads Frogs, smooth, moist skinned, more closely associated with water, longer hind legs Toads, warty drier skin, may be found far from water, shorter hind legs, have parotid glands on neck that release bad tasting or toxic goo when pressed or chewed on. Both require water to reproduce, lay unshelled jelly-like eggs in strings or clusters, that hatch into tadpoles that breath with gills before metamorphosis into adults All feed on insects primarily, larger species may eat small vertebrates

American Toad Eastern KS SE Kansas individuals are small (diminutive) and reddish Call is a long trill like a dial-up modem herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Great Plains Toad West of the Flint hills Large greenish blotches outlined in white herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Chihuahuan Green Toad Threatened Extreme west central KS in Smokey Hill River Valley Specific habitat characteristics include open grass plains and native prairie vegetation with considerable topographic relief Nocturnal and secretive herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Fowler’s Toad SINI (species in need of information) Extreme eastern KS, more specimens from SE counties call, a short "waaaa,” herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Red-spotted Toad SINC Extreme south central and SW counties (Red Hills) Active at twilight,have been encountered over a mile from water and even in prairie dog burrows. herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Woodhouse’s Toad Common state wide White stripe down back Call is an explosive nasal WAAaaaaaa herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog Statewide Prefers sunny ponds of shallow water with good growth of vegetation in the water or on shore; slow-moving streams with sunny banks Call is like clicking pebbles together herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Gray Treefrog complex Forested areas in eastern third of state 2 separate species, undistinguishable except by call One species diploid, other tetraploid Large toe pads for climbing Can change color from green to gray /calls/ mp3 (Hyla chrysoscelis) /calls/ mp3 /calls/Hya_versicolor.mp3 (Hyla versicolor) /calls/Hya_versicolor.mp3

Spotted Chorus Frog South central Kansas herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Spring Peeper Eastern border southern half Cross on back herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Boreal Chorus Frog Statewide except extreme SW corner Brown with dark brown stripes Earliest caller in spring Call: Flicking teeth on comb herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Strecker’s Chorus Frog Threatened South central Kansas in sand sage prairie herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Threatened Extreme SE Kansas herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Western Narrow-mouthed Toad Eastern three-fourths of state Feeds primarily on ants can often readily be found hiding under rocks in spring herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Northern Crawfish Frog SINC Southeastern eighth of Kansas Secretive and seldom seen, spend majority of time in crawfish burrows Snoring frog herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Plains Leopard Frog Statewide Largely confined to aquatic areas, but may travel significant distances over land during the mid-summer. Side stripe broken near hips herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Bullfrog Statewide Largest frog in state A voracious predator, will consume anything moving that can fit inside their mouths. Including, small turtles, snakes, and other frogs. herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Green Frog Threatened Extreme SE corner herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Southern Leopard Frog SE eighth of state White line on sides unbroken at hips herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Plains Spadefoot West of the Flint Hills (western two-thirds) Rounded snout and “cat pupils” Spade on hind feet Emerge from burrows after heavy rains to feed and breed Tadpoles can transform into adults in a week or less. herps/calls/ mp3 herps/calls/ mp3

Salamanders Four legged, smooth moist skin Rely on aquatic environments for reproduction, lay unshelled jelly covered eggs that hatch into larva with gills, larva develop into air breathing adults with lungs in most cases. Neotenic – referring to salamanders that never develop into adult form, just become big larval forms (i.e. tiger salamander)

Western Tiger Salamander Western ¾ of state State amphibian

Eastern Tiger Salamander SINI Found along Kansas river drainage in eastern third of state

Smallmouth Salamander Eastern 1/3 Most easily collected on rainy spring nights as they travel across roads

Long-tailed Salamander Threatened Extreme SE Kansas

Cave Salamander Endangered Extreme SE Kansas

Cave Salamander Endangered Extreme SE Kansas Unpigmented and translucent

Common Mudpuppy SINI SE Kansas Has external gills as adult Fully aquatic

Eastern Newt Threatened Eastern tier of counties southern half Tri-phasic lifecycle – Larva – aquatic, with gills Eft (top photo) – terrestrial, with lungs Adult (bottom photo) – aquatic with lungs