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Frogs in South Carolina

Out of the 5,000+ known species in the world, there are 32 different species of toads and frogs in South Carolina.

The southeastern region of the United States is home to several types of frogs and toads, and South Carolina is a state in this region. Certain species are native to this area; some have been introduced.

You would typically find frogs and toads in freshwater sources around vegetation. This is because they cannot live in saltwater habitats. They live in swamps, forests, marshes, ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.

They are amphibians, able to live both on land and in water. However, some are adapted to live on trees, and they all have preferences on what type of water body to live in.

Listed below are the 32 types of toads and frogs in South Carolina. You will also find in this article their zoological names, lifespan, size, physical description, habits, prey, and predators in adulthood.

Unless otherwise stated, these frogs are common species in the area and have not been listed as threatened or endangered.

If you are in the area and want to catch some, or you’re simply a curious frogger, read on to learn more about species of toads and frogs in South Carolina. Let’s get into it!

Species of Frogs in South Carolina

1. Northern Cricket Frog

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) on moist forest floor in Winnsboro, South Carolina, USA
A Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) on moist forest floor in Winnsboro, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Acris crepitans
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 1.3 to 3.6 cm (0.5 to 1.5 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 4 months in the wild; up to 4.9 years in captivity

The northern cricket frog is one of the hylid species that don’t live on trees. In addition to some US states like North Carolina, they can be found in parts of Canada and Mexico.

They are small with warts on their skin. They have small waists, webbed toes, and a triangle mark between their eyes. Their hind limbs are fairly long but not adapted to climbing.

Dorsal coloration in these frogs is usually gray, light brown, or green. Many of them have a middorsal stripe, colored in any shade between orange and brown, running down their backs.

They have dark bands or stripes on their thighs. From each eye, there is a line on the northern cricket frog reaching each forelimb.

They are diurnal, showing more activity during the day than at night. The call of the northern cricket frog sounds much like two stones clicking together rapidly. They prefer to live around open shallow water.

Frogs of this species are insectivorous. They are preyed upon by herons, fish, and snakes.

They cannot avoid predators by living on trees, so they have a powerful jump and jump in a zigzag manner to escape.

2. Southern Cricket Frog

Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus) on a leaf in Aiken, South Carolina, USA
A Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus) on a leaf in Aiken, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Acris gryllus
  • Other Names: Southeastern cricket frog
  • Adult Size: 1.2 to 3.3 cm (0.5 to 1.3 in)
  • Lifespan: typically 4 months

These frogs are native to the southeastern part of the US.

They love to live in temperate regions, preferring the ground or sunny freshwater areas. They do not climb trees but they like moist areas with vegetation.

Southern cricket frogs resemble northern ones. They are small and also have an orange to brown stripe running down the middle of their backs. They are colored black, brown, reddish-brown, tan, olive green, or gray.

Like northern cricket frogs, southern cricket frogs do not have toe pads for climbing. They possess a triangular marking on their head and a dark stripe on their thighs. This dark stripe has straight edges and is bordered by a stripe of lighter pigment.

You can differentiate the two species. Southern cricket frogs are smaller and more slender, with their snouts more pointed, toes less webbed and warts less prominent. They also have over twice the northern cricket frog’s jump power.

Also, the call of this species of frog sounds like two marbles clicking together. However, this clicking sound is slower than that of the northern cricket frogs.

They are insectivores. Common predators include fish, turtles, snakes, birds, and large salamanders.

They quickly jump far away to evade these attackers. They are also cryptically adapted to their surroundings, changing color to avoid being seen.

3. Bird-Voiced Treefrog

Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca) on a leaf in the dark in Barnwell County, South Carolina, USA
A Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca) on a leaf in the dark in Barnwell County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla avivoca
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 2.8 to 5.2 cm (1.1 to 2.05 in); average 3.2 cm (1.26 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 4 years in captivity, typically 2.5 years

Bird-voiced treefrogs are only found in the United States.

They are endangered in the state of Illinois but abundant around Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. They live in trees above the water.

Their backs are usually smooth and green, brown, gray, or black in color. They have dark blotches on their backs, webbed and padded toes for climbing, bulging eyes, rounded snouts and white spots underneath their eyes.

They have dark stripes on their limbs in gray or yellow-green color. They have white bellies with dark spots. Males are smaller in size than females.

Like its name suggests, the call of the bird-voiced treefrog sounds like a bird chirping. It is primarily solitary, living alone until breeding season. It is most active at night.

They eat insects and non-insect arthropods. Bird-voiced treefrogs’ predators include several species of snakes and birds.

Their green and brown coloration helps them blend into the environment, reducing the chances of being noticed by predators.

4. Cope’s Gray Treefrog

Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) in the nook of a tree trunk in Hopkins, South Carolina, USA
A Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) in the nook of a tree trunk in Hopkins, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla chrysoscelis
  • Other Names: Southern gray treefrog 
  • Adult Size: 3.2 to 6 cm (1.26 to 3.26 in)
  • Lifespan: 2.5 to 7 years in captivity

Frogs of this species are native to North America.

You can find these frogs in South Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Ontario. They can be found near both temporary and permanent water bodies.

Physically, there are no conspicuous differences between the male and female of Cope’s gray treefrogs. They have warty skin, but their skin is not as rough as typical toads’ skins.

They are biologically adapted for living in trees, with adhesive pads on their toes. They have black blotches on their backs and white marks beneath their eyes.

The most common dorsal color of Cope’s gray treefrogs is obvious — gray.

This color is affected by substrate, humidity, and season. You will find individuals in other colors, like gray-green, green and brown.

They are nocturnal and solitary frogs. They are rarely seen on the ground except during the breeding season. The call of this treefrog sounds like a musical trill, fast and high in pitch.

Cope’s gray treefrogs eat insects and their larvae, other invertebrates, and smaller frogs. They are eaten by larger frogs and various species of birds, giant water bugs, snakes and small mammals.

To avoid predators, they live in trees and are cryptically adapted to their environment. They are able to change color in order to blend in with their environment and not be easily seen.

5. Green Treefrog

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) restin on a branch of a tree in Conway, South Carolina, USA
A Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) restin on a branch of a tree in Conway, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla cinerea
  • Other Names: American green treefrog 
  • Adult Size: 3.2 to 6.4 cm (2.6 to 5.2 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 6 years in captivity 

The green treefrog species is common as a pet.

It is found largely across central and southeastern states of the US. It prefers habitats with plenty of floating vegetation and an open canopy.

They have long legs with big toe pads, and smooth skin. Their hind legs are webbed extensively and have two tubercles between the toes. They are medium sized frogs, with females larger than males.

Most green treefrogs are bright yellow-green in color. There are other dorsal colors, in shades between reddish-brown and green. Golden spots overlaying the dorsal color are frequently noticed.

Their underside is usually white or cream in color. Each side of their dorsum has a prominent lateral stripe that is also colored white or cream.

They are solitary for most of the year and most active in moist or humid weather.

They communicate with different and distinct calls. There is a mating call, a call to signal when they sense rain, and an alarm call.

Diet is mostly small and active insects. Predators include a variety of large fish, birds, snakes and larger frogs. They avoid predators by closing their eyes and tucking in their legs to blend in with the color of the leaves.

6. Pine Woods Treefrog

Pine Woods Treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis) sittig on a wooden stick off a highway in Conway, South Carolina, USA
A Pine Woods Treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis) sittig on a wooden stick off a highway in Conway, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Dryophytes femoralis
  • Other Names: Morse-code frog
  • Adult Size: 4 cm (1.57 in)
  • Lifespan: speculated to be 7.8 years

The hylid frogs called pine woods treefrogs are endemic to the southeastern part of the United States. This means that they originate from and are only found in this region. They often breed in temporary wetlands like roadside ditches.

They look like another species called squirrel treefrog but have a row of small orange, yellow or whitish spots behind their thighs that cannot be seen when they are at rest.

Pine woods treefrogs are of medium size, with females usually bigger than males. They have slightly webbed toes and narrow bodies. Their skin is usually light or dark brown, gray or dull green.

Irregular splotches of darker pigment can be found along the sides of their backs. The sides of their bellies are off-white in color, with yellow or orange spots under their hind legs.

Individual frogs may vary in appearance due to stress levels and temperature.

Their call sounds like sporadic chatter, resembling the short sounds of Morse code. They are solitary except in the mating season.

They live in trees outside the breeding season and aestivate (bury themselves in soil) during the heat. They do not completely hibernate in winter.

They are crepuscular, most active at dusk and dawn. Pine woods treefrogs jump and hop away from predators. They also camouflage to avoid predators and use loud alarm calls to startle them in case of capture.

Common prey are terrestrial arthropods. Common predators include banded water snakes, eastern ratsnakes, black racers, ribbon snakes, garter snakes and raccoons.

7. Barking Treefrog

Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) sleeping in a large leaf in Columbia, South Carolina, USA
A Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) sleeping in a large leaf in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla gratiosa
  • Other Names: Dryophytes gratiosus
  • Adult Size: 5.1 to 7 cm (2.01 to 2.76 in)
  • Lifespan: 0-7 years, up to 12.5 years in captivity

Barking treefrogs, like other amphibians, live both on land and in water. The weather influences where you find them — they can be found high on trees in warm weather and inside the ground in dry weather.

They are the largest species of frogs currently known in the southeastern region of the United States.

Their backs are usually gray, brown, or green with dark round spots. Their bodies could change color and the spots would fade to a lighter shade as well.

A yellow stripe is noticeable on each side of the barking treefrog. Their toes have large adhesive pads for climbing trees. Skin is usually rough.

You can tell that a barking treefrog is calling if the call you hear resembles the barking of a dog and has 9 to 10 syllables. These frogs are solitary and nocturnal.

They are greedy and opportunistic feeders, eating many arboreal insects and crickets. They are in turn fed on by larger animals like birds, snakes, and raccoons.

To avoid predators, they are able to detect movement easily. Their sense of sight and adaptive coloration help them are their anti-predator mechanisms.

8. Squirrel Treefrog

Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella) on a green leafy surface on James Island, South Carolina, USA
A Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella) on a green leafy surface on James Island, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla squirella 
  • Other Names: Rain frog, chameleon frog
  • Adult Size: 2.2 to 4.1 cm (1 to 1.5 in)
  • Lifespan: 0-8.5 years in captivity

Squirrel treefrogs are found across the southern states of the US. They can be found almost anywhere they can find moisture, food, and a place to hide.

They are small frogs that can be any color shade ranging from dark brown to light green, depending on surroundings and temperature. Individuals can change dorsal color. Their skins could be patterned or of solid color.

To identify a squirrel frog, you may have to go through an elimination process involving other treefrogs with more stable dorsal pattern characteristics. Males and females do not show any physical differences.

They are mostly active at night but also show daytime activity when the weather is humid. They can change color, and their calls can be heard when the rains are approaching.

While they prey mostly on small insects, they are prey to small mammals, snakes, birds and other frogs. They employ cryptic coloration to be less visible to predators.

9. Pine Barrens Treefrog

Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) on a leaf in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA
A Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) on a leaf in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Hyla andersonii 
  • Other Names: Dryophytes andersonii
  • Adult Size: 3 to 4.7 cm (1.18 to 1.85 in)
  • Lifespan: 2 to 5 years

Pine Barrens treefrogs are a near-threatened species of frogs in South Carolina due to loss of habitat. The geographical range is from southern New Jersey to South Carolina, and sometimes as far as Florida and Alabama.

They live in pools during the warm parts of the year, but when those pools are dried up, they live on damp soil in the shaded brush. They are hylid frogs, but they are highly terrestrial.

Pine Barrens treefrogs vary in size. On average, males are larger than females.

This is a rare feature among amphibians of the class Anura. Their call is quick and nasal, repeated at a rate of about 25 times in 20 seconds.

They are entirely bright green in color with lavender stripes running down their sides. These stripes are often bordered in white. Orange patches are hidden on the inner part of their hind limbs.

Their underside is white in color. Each finger has sticky pads for climbing. The females have patches of darker green on each side of their throats, and their mouth is edged in white.

These frogs are not quick because they do not have a lot of predators. They spend most of their time resting in the brush of the forest.

They are however predatory in nature, eating flies, crickets, grasshoppers, snails, slugs, moths, butterflies, and beetles.

10. Mountain Chorus Frog

Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) in dark, wet, leaf litter in Washington County, Ohio, USA
A Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) in dark, wet, leaf litter in Washington County, Ohio, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris brachyphona
  • Other Names: Appalachian mountain chorus frog
  • Adult Size: 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1 to 1.5 in); average 2.8 cm (1.1 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 5 years in the wild, up to 7 years (for only 15% of eggs)

These frogs are found in two separate populations: one in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and one in central and northern Alabama.

Mountain chorus frogs are usually found in places with lots of trees. They prefer to breed in shallow pools and ditches. They mostly live in high elevations, as high as 1.05 km (3444.88 ft).

Dorsally, they are colored anywhere from gray to olive. Most of them are light brown with spots of varying shades of brown down their backs.

Their color can also change with age. Males’ throats can be any color between yellow and black, while females have white throats.

A dorsal stripe running across their eyes and back is usually present. They have a marking on their backs that resembles reverse parentheses. These reverse parentheses occasionally touch and form an X shape on their backs.

Between the eyes of a frog of this species, a dark triangle can be noticed. Like most chorus frogs, it has a white line on its upper lip. Under the legs, flashes of yellow can be seen.

Mountain chorus frogs are mostly solitary, only interacting and communicating in the breeding season. Their call is described as a succession of rapid, high-pitched, and slightly shrill chirps.

They eat mostly insects, including beetles, spiders, bugs, ants, leafhoppers, flies, centipedes, earthworms, and larvae of butterflies and moths. Larger frogs, like bullfrogs, and snakes are known, as predators.

They are cryptically adapted to their environment. Their dorsal color blends into the leafy surroundings, making them less conspicuous to predators.

11. Brimley’s Chorus Frog

Brimley's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brimleyi) in wet straw and red leaves in Wateree, South Carolina, USA
A Brimley’s Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brimleyi) in wet straw and red leaves in Wateree, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris brimleyi 
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 2.5 to 3.2 cm (1 to 1.3 in)
  • Lifespan: Unknown 

Brimley’s chorus frogs are found in the Atlantic coastal plain. They live only in the United States, in states like Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Some have been found well away from water, in mixed pine and hardwood forests, pine forests, and cultivated fields.

They primarily live in shallow freshwater sources. They do not migrate to breed or after breeding.

Their backs are usually colored light brown with 3 darker colored lines down the middle. There are dark spots on the outer surface of the legs. Their bellies are white with a yellowish hue.

They possess a stripe from each nostril, through the eye, and down to the groin. These two stripes could be brown or black in color.

Brimley’s chorus frogs are mostly active at night. They mainly eat insects and non-insect arthropods and are eaten by ribbon snakes.

12. Spring Peeper

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) at Travelers Rest, South Carolina, USA
A Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) at Travelers Rest, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris crucifer
  • Other Names: Peeper
  • Adult Size: 1.9 to 3.5 cm (0.75 to 1.3 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 3 years, up to 4 years in captivity

Spring peepers can be found in moist areas around trees, fields, wetlands, grassy lowlands and ponds. They could also be found living in mud during hibernation. You may find it hard to see one after the mating season.

This type of treefrog is usually gray, tan, olive-brown, or brown dorsally. Its back is X-shaped with an often irregular brown mark on it. It has a white belly and dark bands on its legs.

It has moderately webbed feet, adapted with small toe pads for climbing. There are no conspicuous differences between the sexes. It lives in trees mostly but it likes to be found on the ground among leaves.

They are known for their chirp-like calls that mark the beginning of spring, hence their name. Spring peepers are nocturnal and mostly live alone.

They feed on insects like ants and flies, and other non-insect arthropods. Several predators feed on these frogs. Some include large spiders, snakes, salamanders, owls, and birds.

To avoid being attacked, they employ cryptic coloration, jump away from attackers, and also bury themselves in mud or deep water.

13. Upland Chorus Frog

Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) on rocky gravel in Columbia, South Carolina, USA
An Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) on rocky gravel in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris feriarum
  • Other Names: Southeastern chorus frog
  • Adult Size: 1.9 to 3.5 cm (0.75 to 1.4 in)
  • Lifespan: unknown

This species of frog is found throughout the eastern part of the US.

They are endemic to the United States. In South Carolina’s coastal plain, there are a few isolated frogs of this species.

Habitats of choice for these frogs include meadows, moist forests, ponds, and marshes. They are also found in wetlands, woodlands, grassy areas, and bogs.

Upland chorus frogs are quite small. Dorsal coloration is usually brown or gray. Markings on the back are highly variable, with the dorsum appearing spotted or streaked.

A light line can be noticed across the upper lip. There is also a dark stripe running through the eye and down the back.

Most of them have three longitudinal stripes running down their backs, but these lines may be broken in their presence or even absent.

Males are physically different from females. They have a large vocal sac under their chin which is absent in the females.

The call of an upland chorus frog has been likened to the sound produced by running a finger down the bristles of a comb. It is smooth and fast.

The frog is nocturnal, and it feeds mostly on insects and other invertebrates. Animals that feed on it include birds, fish, snakes, raccoons, turtles, and mammals.

14. Southern Chorus Frog

Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita) on a light pebbled surface in Liberty County, Florida, USA
A Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita) on a light pebbled surface in Liberty County, Florida, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris nigrita 
  • Other Names:
  • Adult Size: 2.1 to 3.3 cm (0.83 to 1.3 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 1 year in the wild, up to 2 or 3 years

Southern chorus frogs have been known to inhabit the southern parts of the United States. You can find these frogs in South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida.

They live in pine forests, near limestone sinkholes, and in sandy soil. They use both temporary and permanent water bodies and are present in bogs, marshes, ponds, lakes, and along borders of prairie streams and rivers.

Their dorsal skin is usually brown, gray, or tan with three longitudinal stripes on it. It is mainly smooth but there are some bumps on it.

Bands of a darker hue are noticed in their eyes. Like other chorus frogs, they have a white line running along their lips. Males and females can be this apart by the color of their throats and their overall size.

Male southern chorus frogs have rusty or orange-colored throats, while females have brighter-colored throats, usually white. Although frogs of these species are generally small in size, males are slightly smaller than females.

They are nocturnal frogs that live in groups during the breeding season. They breed at night and hide in long blades of grass to avoid predation. Their calls are described as a slow trill.

Their habits have not been adequately studied, but they are mainly insectivorous. Many species of birds and snakes eat these frogs.

15. Little Grass Frog

Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris ocularis) on dark wet wood in Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA
A Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris ocularis) on dark wet wood in Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris ocularis 
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 1.1 to 2 cm (0.43 to 0.78 in)
  • Lifespan: unknown

As the name of this species implies, these frogs are small. They are the smallest type of frog in North America. They are restricted to low vegetation because of their size.

They breed in shallow and grassy wetlands. These could be temporary or semi-permanent places like roadside ditches and ponds.

A little grass frog characteristically has a pointed head with a dark band running from each eye down its back. Their digits have only little webbing.

It is usually brown, or with reddish ground color. A dark stripe can sometimes be seen running down the middle of its back. Underneath it, the belly is yellowish or white.

They are active all year in some areas, only suspending activity for a few days when the weather is too cold. Males are a little smaller than females.

Little grass frogs eat a wide variety of insects and arachnids. They usually forage the ground to find these terrestrial prey.

Predators include different vertebrates and invertebrates. To avoid these predators, they are cryptically colored and apply a jump of over 1 foot to escape their predators.

16. Ornate Chorus Frog

Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornata) on wood grounds in South Carolina, USA
An Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornata) on wood grounds in South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Hylidae 
  • Scientific Name: Pseudacris ornata 
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 2.5 to 3.2 cm (1 to 1.5 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 3.5 years

Ornate chorus frog species live in wetlands, woodlands, and grassy areas like prairies.

They like to breed in both temporary and semi-permanent water bodies. They are however most common in habitats with little to no moisture, like sandhills.

Frogs of this species are the most colorful. They are often gray, green, or reddish-brown in color. They have occasional yellow spots on their groins and small yellow spots on the inside of their legs.

Across each of their eyes is a black stripe like a mask. They have dark markings on their sides and groins. The tips of their toes are small and round.

They are nocturnal and like humid weather. The call of an ornate chorus frog is described as sharp metallic “tinks” often repeated successively.

They are insectivorous, feeding on insects and other small non-insect arthropods.

Like most anurans, they are hunted by snakes, birds, and small mammals. Other predators include hawks, owls, raccoons, and skunks.

They avoid predators in various ways. With their powerful jumps, they take immense leaps away from predators. They also lie flat when surprised and burrow in the ground away from attackers.

17. Gopher Frog

Gopher Frog (Lithobates capito) in water and straw and leeds in South Carolina, USA
A Gopher Frog (Lithobates capito) in water and straw and leeds in South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates capito 
  • Other Names: Rana capito
  • Adult Size: 6 to 9 cm (2.36 to 3.54 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 6 years in the wild; up to 7 years in captivity 

The gopher frog is another species endemic to the southeast United States. It is found in the Atlantic coastal plains of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

They are primarily found in hot and dry upland habitats like longleaf pine and substrates. They are named gopher frogs because they usually seek shelter in the burrows of gopher tortoises and other mammals.

Populations of the gopher frogs have declined due to fire suppression and loss of habitat. They prefer to live in woodlands with an open canopy.

This frog is known to have a stubby and robust appearance. Dorsal skin is heavily spotted in the dark pigment and could be rough or smooth. It is usually colored brightly from yellow-white to brown or gray.

Bellies are often white, cream or yellow in color with dark spots. They have two lateral ridges running down each side of their backs. The forelimbs of this species are relatively short and snouts tapered.

These are nocturnal frogs, with their call deep, throaty and snore-like. To escape predators, they are cryptically colored and make use of burrows.

Diet consists mainly of insects like cockroaches, spiders, grasshoppers, and beetles; other invertebrates like earthworms; and other marine vertebrates like frogs and toads. They are eaten by turtles and snakes.

18. American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) on someone's glove in South Carolina, USA
An American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) on someone’s glove in South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates catesbeianus
  • Other Names: Rana catesbeianus, American bullfrog, North American bullfrog 
  • Adult Size: 9 to 15.2 cm (3.5 to 6 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 7 years in the wild, up to 9 years; up to 16 years in captivity

The bullfrog is native to eastern North America but has been introduced to other places like parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. It is largely aquatic and can be found around bodies of water.

Swamps, ponds, marshes, ditches, rivers, and streams with abundant vegetation are common habitats. They can be found along the banks of streams too. They prefer still and shallow water.

Bullfrogs are the largest species of true frogs existing in North America. Dorsally, they could be colored in different shades from brown to green, with darker colored blotches on their backs. They have fully webbed hind legs and white bellies.

You can tell the male and female frogs of this species apart easily. In males, the external ear is much larger than the eye, while the eye and external ear are relatively the same sizes, or the ear is smaller in females.

Also, the male’s throat is yellow while the female’s throat is white during mating season.

These frogs are active both during the day and at night. They however prefer warm and humid weather. Their call has been described as a low rumbling “jug-o-rum”.

They are predators to snakes, worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, other frogs, and aquatic eggs. They eat terrestrial vertebrates, even frogs of the same species. They endanger some other species of frogs.

Known predators of American bullfrogs include turtles, raccoons, great blue herons, great egrets, and water snakes.

They are even hunted by humans for meat but face no threat of extinction. Their undesirable taste saves them from predation.

19. Green Frog

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) on a mossy rock in Pickens County, South Carolina, USA
A Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) on a mossy rock in Pickens County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans 
  • Other Names: Rana clamitans, bronze frog, cow frog, brown frog
  • Adult Size: 7.5 to 12.5 cm (2.95 to 4.92 in)
  • Lifespan: up to 10 years in captivity

These can be found along slow-moving streams and rivers. They are typically found around water but may move into meadows and wooded areas when the rains come.

The dorsal coloration of green frogs is mostly green, yellow-green, brown, brownish-green, or olive, with some rare blue ones. They have irregular dark spots on their backs, transverse bands on their legs, and yellow or white bellies.

Their toes are very webbed. The external ear of this species is quite large, being much larger than the eye in males and the same size as the eye in females. Males are also identified by their bright yellow throats.

Green frogs are mainly solitary. They are both nocturnal and diurnal.

Their mating call is a twang that sounds like a plucked banjo string. Other calls they use include aggressive calls, release calls, alert calls, and advertisement calls.

They eat various invertebrates and other chordates like small frogs. Adults are eaten by snakes, herons, birds, raccoons, larger frogs, turtles, and humans.

To avoid predators, they have excellent vision. This helps them quickly detect their attackers and run away. They sometimes employ mimicry by living around mink frogs, which they look like.

Mink frogs taste bad because they secrete foul-tasting liquid when eaten, but green frogs don’t. In order to not be eaten by their hunters, they take advantage of this resemblance.

20. Pig Frog

Pig Frog ( Lithobates grylio) fresh out of water on a wooden surface in Jasper County, South Carolina, USA
A Pig Frog ( Lithobates grylio) fresh out of water on a wooden surface in Jasper County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates grylio
  • Other Names: Rana grylio, lagoon frog, southern bullfrog 
  • Adult Size: 11.5-16.5 cm (3.25-6.5 in)
  • Lifespan: not known

Pig frogs are found in lakes, marshes, ponds and streams. They particularly like ponds with such vegetation as water lilies, bladderworts, saw grass, pickerel weed and maiden cane.

A pig frog bears semblance to a bullfrog, but it has a narrow, pointed head with fully webbed hindlegs. It can be found in shades from olive to black-brown color. Its back has spots scattered on it, and may have four lateral lines in bright orange-brown or olive color.

Its belly is typically white or a yellowish pallor. Each thigh has either a bright line or a row of bright spots running through it.

Its eyes are larger than normal and its nostrils prominent. You can tell the male and female frogs of this species apart by the same standards as green frogs.

Pig frogs are shy, and so not many of them are seen in the daytime. They are entirely aquatic and rarely seen on land.

They are mainly nocturnal. Their calls are similar to the grunting of a herd of pigs. 

They prey on insects and crustaceans at night. They are hunted by humans as a source of frog legs, to be eaten.

21. River Frog

River Frog (Lithobates heckscheri) on a lilypad by a river in Hampton County, South Carolina, USA
A River Frog (Lithobates heckscheri) on a lilypad by a river in Hampton County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates heckscheri
  • Other Names: Rana heckscheri
  • Adult Size: 8.26 to 11.76 cm (3.25 to 4.63 in); record length 15.5 cm (6.13 in)
  • Lifespan: unknown

Unlike their name may suggest, river frogs do not live only in rivers.

They can be found around creeks, swamps, marshes, lakes and ponds. You can find these frogs in South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi and other states on the coastal plain.

Frogs of this species are large. The dorsum is usually in different shades of green, like dark green or greenish black. Their ventral surface could be completely black, but it is usually a medium or dark shade of gray.

Light spots or wavy lines can be noticed on their bellies. On their lower jaw and lips, light spots are present. There are no ridges on their backs.

Their dorsal skin is usually rough and heavily wrinkled, rougher than other ranid (true) frog species. On the groin is a pale outline.

Sexes can be differentiated. Males’ throats are more yellowish than the white throats of females. Also, the eardrums of male frogs are larger than their eyes. In females, the eardrum is either the same size as or smaller than the eye.

River frogs are nocturnal and solitary. Their call sounds like a low-pitched rolling snore. They are highly aquatic and often sit in shallow open water.

They feed on insects, other invertebrates and small vertebrates like frogs.

Instead of fleeing from predators, river frogs often go limp and play dead. They also secrete an unpleasant odor making them unattractive to attackers.

22. Pickerel Frog

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) in wet leaves and twigs in Oconee County, South Carolina, USA
A Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) in wet leaves and twigs in Oconee County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates palustris
  • Other Names: Rana palustris
  • Adult Size: 4.5 to 8.7 cm (1.8 to 3.4 in); record 11.4 cm (4.5 in)
  • Lifespan: unknown

Pickerel frogs live around cool streams in wooded areas, swamps and springs. They can be found in other habitats like grassy fields, prairies and weed-covered locations during summer.

They have two folds running down their backs. There are also two lines of chocolate-brown spots in between these folds. Their venter is usually milk or white in color.

Their inner thighs also have bright yellow or yellow-orange coloration. Males are typically smaller than females. These males have short forearms, paired vocal sacs and swollen thumbs.

They are nocturnal frogs. The mating call of a male is low and sounds like snoring. They are carnivores, feeding on mostly insects and other invertebrates.

Pickerel frogs produce toxic secretions that irritate humans and can cause the death of small animals. This is their adaptation against predation. Snakes and other predators avoid eating them for this reason.

23. Southern Leopard Frog

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) in grass on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA
A Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) in grass on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates sphenocephalus
  • Other Names: Rana sphenocephala, Florida leopard frog
  • Adult Size: 2 to 13 cm (0.79 to 5.12 in); average 8 cm (3.15 in)
  • Lifespan: <1 year in the wild, up to 2 or 3 years

The southern leopard frog is native to the eastern part of North America. It is however an introduced species in some other areas.

Frogs of this species are commonly found around bodies of freshwater, but they disperse from the water to moist vegetation in the summer. They are fundamentally aquatic, and perform a lot of activity on land as well.

They are slender and long-legged. They have sharply pointed heads.

From behind each eye to the hip, there is a conspicuous dorsal fold in lighter color. Dorsal coloration is usually green or brown, with distinct dark spots.

Their external ears are about the size of their eyes, with a white dot noticed occasionally in the middle.

These frogs do not have toe pads, and females are usually bigger than males.

They are nocturnal, hiding during the day in vegetation close to water. Their calls are short trills.

These trills have been said to sound like a chicken clucking or like the sound made from rubbing a finger against a balloon.

They primarily feed on insects and non-insect arthropods. Larger frogs may eat small mammals. They usually evade predators by entering the water and swimming away.

Common predators of the southern leopard frog include: southern water snakes, river otters, ribbon snakes, great blue herons, brown water snakes and humans. 

24. Wood Frog

Wood Frogs ( Lithobates sylvatica) on top of each other in the water at Gorges State Park, South Carolina, USA
A Wood Frogs ( Lithobates sylvatica) on top of each other in the water at Gorges State Park, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates sylvatica
  • Other Names: Rana sylvatica, the frog with the robber‘s mask
  • Adult Size: 3.8 to 8.2 cm (1.5 to 3.25 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 3 years in the wild, up to 5 years

Another of the types of frogs in South Carolina is the wood frog.

It is commonly distributed across North America. It usually leaves its primary habitat to breed in semi-permanent water bodies.

It spends most of its time in the ground or around trees, but it can also be found in marshes, swamps, meadows, coniferous forests, deciduous forests and mixed forests.

A wood frog typically has mask-like markings across its eyes. Also present is a black patch from each eardrum to the base of each foreleg. A white outline can be noticed across its upper lip.

These true frogs come in diverse shades of gray, green, brown, tan and rusty color. They have a fold running down their dorsum. This fold is usually a bright yellow-brown color. Ventrally, the frogs are white.

Male wood frogs are smaller in size. The ventral part of their legs is also colorful.

On the other hand, female wood frogs are bigger. Their white bellies fade to a yellow-orange pallor towards the legs. The females are however more brightly colored dorsally than the males.

Wood frogs are more diurnal, actively foraging during the day. Their calls sound like the quacking of a duck or the squawking of a chicken.

They eat mainly insects, beetles, spiders, slugs, snails and worms. They are eaten by larger frogs, different snake species, herons, skunks, raccoons and mink.

Adults of this species are cryptically adapted to their surroundings. They blend with the forest floor to evade predators.

They also produce poisons to irritate predators. When captured, a wood frog lets out a piercing cry to startle the predator and probably annoy this attacker enough to let the frog go.

25. Carpenter Frog

Carpenter Frog (Lithobates virgatipes) on the forest floor of Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina, USA
A Carpenter Frog (Lithobates virgatipes) on the forest floor of Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Ranidae 
  • Scientific Name: Lithobates virgatipes
  • Other Names: Rana virgatipes
  • Adult Size: 4.1 to 6.7 cm (1.6 to 2.6 in)
  • Lifespan: 0-6.2 years in captivity

The carpenter frog is a true frog species found along the eastern coast of the United States. They are restricted to the coastal plain, found in acidic bogs, blackwater swamps and grasslike vegetation in this area.

Physically, this type of frog looks somewhat like a toad. This is because its hind limbs are short. Dorsal coloration is usually brown or bronze while ventral coloration is white with black mottling.

There are no dorsal ridges on the carpenter frog. However, four stripes of lighter pigment are conspicuous on the length of its back. A light line is also noticed on its upper lip.

Their toes are webbed, but the webbing does not reach the last toe. Males have narrower heads than females. Carpenter frogs are generally medium sized frogs.

It is so named because its call sounds like the hammering of a carpenter. Five other less identifiable calls have been noticed among individuals of this species. They are secretive and shy, and so they are difficult to see or capture.

These frogs eat insects and other invertebrates. Known predators include water snakes, bullfrogs and pig frogs.

They are cryptically adapted to their environment, camouflaging to avoid predation. When attacked, they quickly duck underwater. They then raise their heads after some time to scan the surroundings.

26. Greenhouse Frog

Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) in green grass in Charleston, South Carolina, USA
A Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) in green grass in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Eleutherodactylidae/ Leptodactylidae
  • Scientific Name: Eleutherodactylus planirostris
  • Other Names: N/A
  • Adult Size: 1.2 to 3 cm (0.47 to 1.18 in)
  • Lifespan: not known

The greenhouse frog species is native to the Caribbean Islands. They have however been introduced to other areas of the Americas and Asia.

They are largely terrestrial, found in both residential areas and natural habitat. They also live in open grasslands and along stream banks.

They have granular dorsal skin. This skin has been noticed in various colors ranging from brown and reddish-brown to tan and bronze. Dorsal color is usually light gray. 

Greenhouse frogs also have small forelimb digits, toes that are not webbed and small toe pads. Males are generally smaller than females.

There is a recessive and a dominant pattern phase among greenhouse frogs. The recessive phase consists of dark and light coloration, a dorsal band in the shape of a V, and a band between the eyes.

The dominant phase includes two light stripes running laterally along the back from the eye to the posterior end. 

Greenhouse frogs are nocturnal, active mostly in humid and rainy weather. In dry weather, they usually seek shelter under different natural and man made objects. Their call is a series of 4 to 5 irregular chirps.

They are typically insectivores, feeding on insects and other terrestrial invertebrates. They are hunted by other frogs, birds, mammals, snakes and lizards.

They are cryptically colored to evade predators.

Species of Toads in South Carolina

27. American Toad

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) on someone's hand in the forest in South Carolina, USA
An American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) on someone’s hand in the forest in South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Bufonidae
  • Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus 
  • Other Names: Bufo americanus, hop toad, eastern American toad 
  • Adult Size: 5 to 10 cm (1.97 to 4 in); average 7.5 cm (2.95 in)
  • Lifespan: 0-10 years in the wild, average 1 year; up to 36 years in captivity

American toads can be found almost anywhere in the eastern part of the US.

They are also found in parts of Canada. They live in rainforests, streams, ponds and even backyards.

As long as there is a body of semi-permanent water for them to breed in and thickset vegetation to act as cover during hunting, this species of frogs lives in the area comfortably.

American toads are characteristically stout, with thick skin and short legs. They have noticeable warts on their bodies, usually yellow or red.

They come in many colors, like olive green, gray, reddish-brown and tan, and these colors could be solid or include patterns.

Their wart patterns are different from the wart patterns of other frog species. Their backs are littered with several dark spots. These spots have only one or two warts each.

Female and male toads of this species are easily distinguishable. While the male toads have longer throats and overall darker skin, the females possess shorter throats and are generally lighter skinned. Also, female toads are larger in size than the males.

They typically hide under rocks, stones, twigs and other such things in the daytime.

They are nocturnal, showing activity when the weather is warm and humid. The male’s call is a long and high-pitched “bu-r-r-r-r-r”, usually 6-30 seconds long.

These toads eat insects and other invertebrates for food. Snakes are their most common predators. They protect themselves from predators by releasing a poisonous milky produced by some glands in their skin.

If this poison gets into the eyes or is ingested, it becomes harmful. However, some species of snakes are immune to this secretion.

When attacked by such snakes, American toads urinate on themselves or inflate themselves with air. This makes them undesirable and hard to eat.

28. Fowler’s Toad

Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) in a nook in bark in Cayce, South Carolina, USA
A Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) in a nook in bark in Cayce, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Bufonidae 
  • Scientific Name: Anaxyrus fowleri 
  • Other Names: Bufo fowleri
  • Adult Size: 5.1 to 9.5 cm (2 to 3.75 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 5 years 

This species of toads is found in the eastern region of the United States, along the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

They typically live in savannas which have widely spaced trees and open canopy. They also like to live on beaches, preferring to live in open spaces.

They bear similar characteristics to other anurans, including toothless jaws and amplified parotid glands.

They are usually medium-sized and tan, gray, brown or greenish gray in color. They have dark or black spots on their backs, and each black spot could have three to six warts.

They have a white or light mid-dorsal stripe and light bellies with a single gray spot. Typically, the male toads are darker in color and the females lighter.

Conflicting information exists about the behavior of Fowler’s toads. Some sources claim this species of toads are completely nocturnal while others say that they are active only during the day, except in extreme heat or cold.

The call of Fowler’s toads sounds like the bleating of a sheep. They eat mainly insects and other invertebrates like worms. They are hunted down by snakes, birds and small mammals.

This species of toads employs various methods to avoid or ward off predators. They blend into their environments by adaptive coloration.

They also pretend to be dead by lying still if rough handled by predators.

Another defensive mechanism of theirs is the poisonous liquid from the warts on their skins. When attacked, they secrete this liquid to irritate and even poison their predators.

29. Oak Toad

Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) on wood in Jasper County, South Carolina, USA
An Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) on wood in Jasper County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Bufonidae 
  • Scientific Name: Anaxyrus quercicus
  • Other Names: Bufo quercicus
  • Adult Size: 1.9 to 3.3 cm (0.75 to 1.3 in)
  • Lifespan: 0-1.9 years

Oak toads can be found in the southeastern coastal plains of the USA. They usually prefer living near savannas, in moist and grassy areas with sandy soil. 

They breed in shallow pools and ditches. They live in temperate forests and freshwater habitats. They can also be found in ponds, streams, rivers and marshes.

Adult toads of this species have been referred to as juvenile or half-grown because of their small size.

They are the smallest toad species in North America. They typically have short heads and short flat bodies. Males can be told apart from females by the dark color of their throats.

The bodies of oak toads can change color due to temperature differences. Their backs are usually brown or black. They have a single prominent dorsal stripe which can be in various colors such as orange, yellow, cream or white.

They usually have dark blotches (4 to 5 pairs) on their backs, with fine bumps called tubercles giving their backs a rough texture.

These bumps could be orange, red or reddish-brown in color. Their bellies do not have blotches but they do have tubercles on their white surface.

They live solitary lives and are not threatened yet but are expected to be in the near future. Their call has been described as a high-pitched chirp. They are primarily diurnal but can be found at night taking breeding choruses.

Like other toads, they possess poisonous fluids in their skin to ward off predators. However, oak toads’ poisons are stored in their elongated parotid glands.

They primarily feed on insects and other small arthropods. They are prey to snakes and gopher frogs.

30. Southern Toad

Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) in sticks at Jefferson, South Carolina, USA
A Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) in sticks at Jefferson, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Bufonidae 
  • Scientific Name: Anaxyrus terrestris
  • Other Names: Bufo terrestris 
  • Adult Size: 4.1 to 9 cm (1.6 to 3.5 in); up to 11.3 cm (4.4 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 10 years in the wild, average 1 year; up to 36 years in captivity

The southern toad is native to southeastern states of the USA.

While it can be found in natural habitats like lakes, streams and rivers, this toad is also comfortable living in human environments, like parks and yards.

This frog likes to burrow in sandy soil. It is largely terrestrial, and moves to lowland water bodies in the breeding season for reproduction purposes.

Southern toads are usually colored brown dorsally but can be found in other colors like red, gray and black. Sexes can be told apart. Males are smaller than females, and they have darker throats in the breeding period.

They are nocturnal toads, burrowing in the sand during the day and active during the night. Their call is high-pitched and shrill. It is a musical trill that lasts for about 2-8 seconds, with about 75 trills per second.

They eat insects, like ants, beetles, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, lightning bugs and snails, and other invertebrates. They are preyed on by various snake species, giant water bugs and turtles.

31. Eastern Spadefoot Toad

Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrooki) in sand in Dorchester County, South Carolina, USA
An Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrooki) in sand in Dorchester County, South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Pelobatidae/ Scaphipodidae
  • Scientific Name: Scaphiopus holbrooki
  • Other Names: Eastern spadefoot
  • Adult Size: 4.5 to 7.8 cm (1.7 to 3.1 in)
  • Lifespan: 5 to 9 years in the wild; 7 to 10 years in captivity

Endemic to North America, this toad species likes sandy soil, moderate temperature and rainy regions.

They live in grasslands, ravines, pastures, farmlands, swamps and temporary pools. They like to burrow into the ground and then cover themselves with leaves and twigs for protection.

Eastern spadefoots are dark in color. The skin in their backs is full of warts. Dorsal coloration is in different shades ranging from olive to black. Ventral coloration could be gray to white.

They have two conspicuous lines running along their backs and tapering together at the posterior end.

They have small parotid glands, large eyes for nocturnal sight, and black spade-like protrusions on their hindlegs to aid burrowing. Color and darkness of skin are affected by environment and not sex.

They like to live alone and are active both in the day and at night, but more active during the day. They are very active in humid weather. Their call is a low-pitched “waaaaa” repeated at short intervals.

They feed on insects, insect larvae, worms, arachnids, termites and other invertebrates. Other toads, different species of snakes, and various birds feed on the eastern spadefoot.

To avoid predators, this toad quickly buries itself in the soil which its skin blends with. It also produces a secretion which is foul-tasting and foul-smelling to predators.

32. Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) in dry forest ground in South Carolina, USA
A Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) in dry forest ground in South Carolina, USA. – Source
  • Family: Microhylidae
  • Scientific Name: Gastrophryne carolinensis 
  • Other Names: Eastern narrow-mouthed toad
  • Adult Size: 2.5 to 4cm (1 to 1.5 in)
  • Lifespan: 0 to 6 years in captivity

This is a species of small toads found in the entire southeastern portion of North America.

They have been introduced in the Bahamas. They live anywhere provided there is shelter and moisture.

They burrow into the soil and can be found by upturning logs, boards, vegetable debris and sawdust piles. Sandy suburban lawns that are often watered could also house these toads.

Toads of this species have a distinct fold of skin running across their heads behind their eyes. This fold can move to protect the toad’s eyes from insects.

The eastern narrowmouth toad shows varied dorsal coloration, including light tan, brown, red, reddish-brown, gray and nearly black.

Its middorsal area usually has brightly colored strips covered in patches and spots. Its stomach is heavily spotted, its head is narrow, sharp and pointed, and its mouth is small (hence the name).

They have very smooth skin and no tympana, unlike most true toads. You can tell males and females apart by pigmentation: males are typically darker in color than females.

These toads are fundamentally nocturnal. Their call sounds like a long, nasal high-pitched “waaaaaaaa”.

They feed largely on ants, beetles and termites. Common predators are snakes and cattle egrets.

They avoid their hunters by burrowing into the soil, nocturnality, and mucous secretions that irritate predators.

FAQs

Where to find frogs in the winter in South Carolina

If you are wondering where you find frogs in the winter in South Carolina, you should check the bottom of ponds and lakes, or burrows in the ground. Frogs usually hibernate during winter.

What frogs are poisonous in South Carolina?

Frogs that are poisonous in South Carolina include pickerel frogs and wood frogs.

What kind of frogs are small in South Carolina?

Northern cricket frogs, southern cricket frogs, squirrel treefrogs, mountain chorus frogs, Brimley’s chorus frogs, spring peepers, upland chorus frogs, little grass frogs and ornate chorus frogs are species of small frogs in South Carolina.

What kind of frogs are in the South Carolina trees?

Not all tree frogs live in trees. Hylid frogs that are in the South Carolina trees include: bird-voiced treefrogs, Cope’s gray treefrogs, green treefrogs, pine woods treefrogs, barking treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, Pine Barrens treefrogs and spring peepers.

Where do tree frogs go in the winter in South Carolina?

Tree frogs go into hibernation in the winter in South Carolina, as most frogs do. This is why not much activity is noticed in this period. Some frogs, like the southern chorus frog and gopher frog, are still active during winter.

What kind of tree frogs are in South Carolina?

The frog family Hylidae is the family of treefrogs.

These kinds/ species of tree frogs are in South Carolina: northern and southern cricket frogs, bird-voiced treefrogs, Cope’s gray treefrogs, green treefrogs, pine woods treefrogs, barking treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, Pine Barrens treefrogs, mountain chorus frogs, Brimley’s chorus frogs, spring peepers, upland chorus frogs, southern chorus frogs, little grass frogs and ornate chorus frogs. There are 16 kinds of tree frogs in South Carolina.

Conclusion

There are 6 species of toads and 26 species of frogs in South Carolina. These range from common species like the American toad to endangered species such as Pine Barrens treefrogs.

It is generally safer to keep frogs as pets than toads. Most toads have warts on their skin that produce poisonous substances to defend them against predators. These secretions could irritate or harm humans.

The secretions of frogs most times give them a bad odor and taste, thereby discouraging predators from eating them. As with every rule, there is an exception for pickerel frogs and wood frogs in South Carolina.

These frog species release poisonous secretions when they feel threatened. They are not the most ideal frogs to keep as pets in the home.

Consider getting a green treefrog if you want a pet, as those are one of the best and most common options.

More frogs in other States

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