Discover Texas' Top 10 Frog Species – A Biodiversity Spotlight

Folks often say that everything is bigger in Texas! And that rings true for the eclectic mix of flora and fauna found in the Lone Star State. Texas is actually one of the most bio-diverse areas of the nation due to its immense size. Its rich ecosystem makes Texas the perfect habitat for numerous amphibians that live on land and in water. Frog species are abundant in Texas.

Not to be mistaken for toads, frogs have smooth, moist skin and long legs. If you’re wondering what types of frogs you’ll find in Texas, here are the 10 most common frog species you’ll find in this state.

10 Frogs Found in Texas:

1. Rio Grande Chirping Frog

Species:	Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides
Longevity:	2 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	1 inch
Diet:	Carnivorous

There are many types of small frogs in Texas, including the Rio Grande Chirping Frog. This frog is known for its small size. Another unique characteristic about the Rio Grande Chirping Frog is its ability to run away from predators instead of leaping. Found in southern Texas along the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Chirping Frog lives in areas with moist vegetation. Both males and females have distinct high-pitched mating calls.

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2. Rio Grande Leopard Frog

Species:	Rana berlandieri
Longevity:	3 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	2 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Rio Grande Leopard Frog is an aquatic frog in Texas. It lives in permanent bodies of water and can be found throughout central, west, and southern areas of the state. It regularly breeds throughout the year and can lay hundreds of eggs. The Rio Grande Leopard Frog is either tan or light green with brown spots on its legs and back. It has a slim waist and a pointy nose.

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3. Balcones Barking Frog

Species:	Craugastor augusti latrans
Longevity:	2 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	3 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

Also known as the Eastern Barking Frog, the Balcones Barking Frog can be found throughout western and central Texas. It looks similar to a toad and has short hind legs and a broad head. The Balcones Barking Frog gets its name from the dog-like barking the male makes during mating season.

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4. Cliff Chirping Frog

Species:	Eleutherodactylus marnockii
Longevity:	2 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	1 inch
Diet:	Carnivorous

Found in western and central Texas, the Cliff Chirping Frog prefers to live in rocky, humid habitats. It is also prevalent in urban areas and burrows into limestone ravines and caves. A smaller frog, the Cliff Chirping Frog has a flat head and more distance between its eyes than other frog species. A native species to the area, it breeds on land in areas with damp soil after rainfall.

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5. American Bullfrog

Species:	R. catesbeiana
Longevity:	4 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	150 mm
Diet:	Carnivorous

The American Bullfrog can be found throughout most regions of the United States. It is one of the big frog in Texas and the largest frog species in America. It has dark green skin with a white venter. While Bullfrogs mostly feast on insects, larger ones may consume crayfish, mice, and smaller frogs. The Bullfrog is known for its deep call that resembles a bullhorn.

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6. Cajun Chorus Frog

Species:	Pseudacris fouquettei
Longevity:	3 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	27 mm
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Cajun Chorus Frog is a small frog in Texas. It can grow to be between 27mm and 30mm long. Found throughout southern America, the Cajun Chorus Frog is light brown with three dark brown stripes or spots across its back. Females can lay up to 1,500 eggs each year that are typically attached to long grass stems. The Cajun Chorus Frog eats flies, beetles, and ants.

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7. Crawfish Frog

Species:	Rana areolata
Longevity:	3 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	110 mm
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Crawfish Frog is a light green to light grey colored frog with dark brown or black circular markings. It gets its name due to its preference to live in crayfish burrows for most of the year. The burrow serves as a retreat from predators and an important source of water. Due to the loss of its natural habitat, the Crawfish Frog is considered a threatened species.

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8. Mexican White Lipped Frog

Species:	Leptodactylus fragilis
Longevity:	2 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	1 – 2 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Mexican White Lipped Frog is found throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, as well as in Mexico and Central America. It is a brown frog with tan and black markings and a distinct white stripe along the upper lip. This frog species lives in grasslands, savannas, montane tropical forests, and semi-arid lands. During the hotter months, it buries itself in loose soil and emerges in the evenings to feed.

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9. Pig Frog

Species:	Rana grylio
Longevity:	2 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	2 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Pig Frog is an aquatic frog found throughout the southern United States, from Texas to South Carolina. It is also called the Lagoon Frog or Southern Bullfrog. It is green or gray-green with black or brown blotching. It got its name from its deep, loud call that sounds like a pig snort. The Pig Frog can be found near lakes, swamps, and marshes.

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10. Pickerel Frog

Species:	Lithobates palustris
Longevity:	3 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	2 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Pickerel Frog is a poisonous frog in Texas. It is brown with dark brown, rectangular spots covering its entire body and an orange flash pattern along the inner surface of its hind legs. It emits secretions from its skin that’s dangerous to predators but irritating to humans.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many weird and wonderful frogs found throughout Texas. From green ones to brown ones, Texas has a diverse collection of frogs found throughout the entire state.