Field Guide to Stafford County Frogs and Toads
American Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana
The Largest Frog in Virginia grow to a length of 4"-8". The male has very large tympani, "ears", behind it's eyes. Bullfrogs are usually green at the nose fading to a green brown at the legs.
Southern Green Frog
Rana clamitans
The Green Frog is smaller reaching a length of 2"-4". It has a yellowish throat. The nose is more pointed than the Bullfrog. Green frogs have pronounced back curve.
Pickerel Frog
Rana palustris
The Pickerel Frog may be from green to brown in color and grow to a length of 2"-4". The markings are more square in shape. It is a slender frog and is quite common showing up in swimming pools and gardens.
Southern Leopard Frog
Rana sphenocephala
The Leopard Frog is often confused with the Pickerel Frog. The most distinct characteristic is the markings are rounder and smaller. The Back arch is a bit more pronounced. Leopard frogs are more common.
Wood Frog
Rana sylvatica
The Wood Frog has fawn colored skin and dark mask at the eyes. It prefers moist wooded areas. Wood frogs grow to a length of about 3". The coloring makes for good camoflage, making it hard to spot.
Carpenter Frog
Rana virgatipes
The Carpenter Frog has four yellowish stripes down its brownish to olive-gray back. Grows to be about 3 "long. It is Jumpy and alert. It is very hardy and adopts well to captivity. It tends to live in bogs and dense slow moving streams.
Eastern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans
The Eastern Cricket Frog is gray brown with black, green or yellow markings and is about 1- 1/2" inches long. They have rough skin with a dark triangle between the eyes and long dark stripes on its thighs. They are usually found along streams and lakes basking in the sun.
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
The Spring Peeper is a small frog attaining length of about 1". It has marks that form an X on the back. The general coloration is a variation of  brown, gray, or green. Like many of the Chorus Frogs, the Spring Peeper is often heard, but not seen.
Southeastern Chorus Frog
Pseudacris feriarum
The Chorus Frog is one of the smallest frogs yet has one of the loudest calls. Their chorus is often mistaken for a larger frog. They grow to about 1 1/2" long. The Chorus Frog is one of the earliest amphibians to emerge. They are usually out before the snow and ice has completely melted.
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Hyla chrysoscelis
The Gray Treefrog’s back is usually two toned gray with a broad patch of darker gray at the center. However, it also has the ability to blend into its surroundings It has a bright yellow or orange color on its inner thighs. The Gray Treefrog has large toe pads, warty skin.
Green Treefrog
Hyla cinerea
The Green Treefrog is bright green. A yellow or white stripe that varies in length, may extend farther along the body on one side than the other, or may be lacking entirely. Many individual green treefrogs have golden color spots on their backs.
American Toad
Bufo americanus
The American Toad Grows to a length of 4". The throat and belly are spotted. It has a line down the center of the back. American Toads may be reddish to brown.
Fowler's Toad
Bufo fowleri
The Fowler's Toad looks like the American Toad, but has three or more warts per black back spot and lacks the spotting on throat and belly. It also grows to about 4".