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Last Updated: 2/18/08
Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and Newts
These animals are mostly species found near Maryland (native and introduced) but many have wide ranges all over the continent and even the world. The African clawed frogs and African dwarf frogs are two exceptions that were added for the benefit of interested aquarists. There are six separate pages on amphibians listed below.
Amphibian Index:
On This Page
Aquarium Frogs - now on their own page
Frog Species - pond frogs; on their own page
Toads - on their own page
Newts and Salamanders - on their own
page
Mealworms - information on caring for and raising mealworms to feed your hungry frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and other animals
Crickets - information on feeder crickets
To see photos of the frogs and toads that have visited us, go to my pond pictures page under frogs and toads.
There is a section on keeping animals (including tadpoles and frogs) from getting sucked into pond pumps here.
One way to help frogs and toads breed if you have no ponds or a pond with fish that eat the eggs and tadpoles is to set up fish-less container ponds. See my tub pond page for more information.
If you have eggs in your pond and are not sure what they are, check out the pond egg identification guide.
Keith created a frog computer system for Sandra and sent this photo of it to me on 1/21/06.
Frog Computer
I absolutely plan to redo my amphibian pages. The problem is that my site is huge, and I have little time. I am going topic by topic. The frogs, toads, salamander, and newts will have their day!
These are the books that I own and that I used as references for this web page.
Familiar Reptiles & Amphibians of North America, National Audobon Society Pocket Guide, Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.
Pond Life: A Guide to Common Plants and Animals of North American Ponds and Lakes by Dr. George K. Reid, Golden Press, 1967. A book chock full of information.
Newts and Salamanders by Frank Indiviglio, Barron's, 1997.
The Audubon Society Nature Guides: Wetlands by William A. Niering, Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
rec.pets.herp - a newsgroup about reptiles and amphibians
See photos of some of the frogs and toads that have visited Robyn's pond by going to the pond pictures page under amphibians.
Species Identification Guide - the North American Reporting Center for Amphibian Malformations site with photos of over 100 amphibians!!
Herp forums - a place to ask questions about reptiles and amphibians
Frog calls - a site with pictures and sound recordings of various frogs including the green frog.
Frog CD - an ad for a frog CD which includes pictures and sound recordings of rare frogs and the American toad
Toronto Zoo - Frogs and Toads - information on American toads, Fowler's toads, Blanchard's cricket frogs, boreal chorus frogs, striped chorus frogs, gray treefrogs, spring peepers, bullfrogs, mink frogs, wood frogs, green frogs, pickeral frogs, and leopard frogs including photos and recordings of their calls.
Herps of Texas - information, calls, and photos of dozens of frogs and toads found in Texas
Winterizing Frogs and Raising Tadpoles
Frog Photo - looks like a female green frog to me, similar to one of mine at the top of this page
HerpIndex - links to web sites on bullfrogs, African clawed frogs, African dwarf frogs, various tree frogs, horned frogs, white's treefrogs, fire-bellied toads, various other toads, and tons of other frogs! If you cannot find a particular "pet" frog, try here.
FrogWeb - lots of frog, toad, and salamander stuff, dedicated to the abnormalities showing up in amphibians but includes lots of information and links
Amphibiaweb - dedicated to amphibian (mostly frog) abnormalities
Newt Webpage - information on the care of newts (specifically firebelly newts)
North America Amphibian Monitoring and Frog Watch
Goldfish Killers - Tadpoles attacking goldfish (rare)
Frogs and Toads in Color and Sound - site with photos and calls of 10 frogs and 2 toads
HerpDigest - "A free weekly newsletter on the latest news on reptile and amphibian science and conservation."
Reptiles and Amphibians of Virginia & Maryland
Pools for Amphibians - for North Carolina.
enature.com - go to this site and enter your zip code, and they will provide a guide with photos and some information on all the animals, including frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, that are native to YOUR area specifically! They have hundreds of animal photos with a little bit of information for each.
Lalowski's Lilypad - this site has a lot of darling frog graphics and animations.
Diary of a Ponder - this UK gardener has lots of photos and information on the salamanders and frogs in her ponds including their breeding and photos of the developing eggs in the 2002 diary section.
Florida Frogs - photos of frogs native to Florida.
Mike's Life List - includes photos and a little information on about 27 species of newts and salamanders, 14 species of toads (yikes! I only go over three kinds), and 24 species of frogs. These include most of those about which I have information.
The Frogs & Toads of Tennessee - a site with photos, calls, and information on four species of toads and 17 species of frogs native to TN. Most of those may be found in other states as well (about 13 of those 21 are in MD).
The Frogs & Toads of Georgia - a site with photos, calls, and information on 6 species of toad and 26 species of frogs native to GA! Many of these are found in MD and other states too! This site even has photos of some of the tadpoles!
Frog Nirvana - a big frog store but also has some frog information too.
Frog City - another froggy page!
Frog Store - a store that sells frog stuff; it also has a frog facts page
Free Amphibian Clipart (link request)
Herpedia - an encyclopedia of reptiles and amphibians which includes photos and information on many frog and salamander species.
Amphibian Ark - frog conservation
Froggyville - some fun frog stuff.
Frogland - tons of frog related stuff, geared towards pet frogs (as opposed to pond frogs)
It is very difficult to find mail order suppliers who provide any species of amphibian besides bullfrogs. Green frogs and other local frogs, salamanders, and newts are most reasonably located at the local aquarium or pond store. The following suppliers provide the following amphibians by mail order.
MD Aquatic Nurseries, 410-557-7615 (Maryland) - leopard, bullfrog, and green changeable bullfrog tadpoles (I do not know what that last one is).
Lilypons, 1-800-999-5459 (Maryland), 1-800-723-7667 (MD and Texas) - bullfrog tadpoles.
Carolina Math and Scientific, 1-800-334-5551 (North Carolina), catalog only sent to a business or school - salamanders (eggs, larvae, and adults of spotted salamanders and whatever other species they catch), assorted frogs and frog tadpoles (most altered for "scientific" purposes and may not be suited for release).
Paradise Water Gardens, 1-800-955-0161 (Massachusetts) - unknown species of tadpole.
Hunting Creek Fisheries, 1-800-628-2022 (Maryland) - unknown species of tadpole.
Aquatic Dragon of Florida sells leopard frogs (species not specified), garden toads (species not specified), and Cuban tree frogs, both adults and tadpoles when available.
Willow Pond Aqua Farms sells mixed tadpoles (green frogs, leopard frogs, spring peepers, and/or green treefrogs; no choice), adult green frogs, and adult bullfrogs as well as newts. You can call 1-888-854-8945 for a free catalog.
William Tricker, Inc. in Ohio sells unidentified tadpoles and what they call "American salamanders" but they sound like Eastern newts. I thought the unidentified tadpoles would be bullfrogs but Doug told me on 5/3/06 that he asked, and they say they are green frog tadpoles. Their catalog costs $5. Call 1-800-524-3492 or use their web site.
An unknown company sells many amphibians, and sometimes, that includes green frog adults.
Aquamart now sells green frog adults, green frog tadpoles, and bullfrog tadpoles.
Here are some tidbits about amphibians. I did not where to put them on my web site so I made this new section. If you have an interesting fact, let me know, and I will add it.
1. A group of frogs is called an army. A group of toads is called a knot. When toads are mating, it does look like a big knot! Somehow I cannot see frogs marching like an army though!
2. Most amphibians have to close their eyes in order to swallow. They actually use muscles and the volume of the eye to push down to aid swallowing.
3. Toads cannot give you warts.
4. Salamanders were believed to have been born of fire. People used to put logs from the forest in their fireplaces. When lit, the poor salamanders would come crawling out.
5. You can really help out your local amphibian populations by setting up a pond. Providing cover and water benefits so many animals that it is well worth the effort. Remember to avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, especially near where amphibians hang out. Try going au naturelle! See my organic pond page for information on how to deal with "pests" without harming your froggie friends!
This is not a fun fact, in fact the opposite. I get a lot of e-mails wanting to know how to get rid of frogs or toads, either because they are scared of them, hate them, or cannot stand their singing. I say give the poor amphibians a break! They need all the help they can get. Try to live with them and get used to them. Think of the good they do eating pests. There really is no way to keep them away from ponds other than netting the pond. Even then, my frogs when the ponds are netted in fall will bounce on the nets. Situate ponds away from bedroom windows. If you cannot, then keep the windows shut or try ear plugs when they sing. At out house, a pool cover near the bedrooms gives a place for tree frogs to sing. They are very loud but we get used to it after a few days. It becomes background noise. Please do not consider killing or poisoning any amphibians (or any animal in my mind). It may also be illegal depending on the location and species in question. Please love the frogs and toads!
Also, vote for this site as a "Frog Stop Top Frog Site" by clicking below:
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