Amazing Amphibians of Louisiana

Gulf Coast Toad (Bufo nebulifer)
Hear the Advertisement call of the male.



Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris)

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Buy Louisiana Bullfrog by naturegirl7
 

Bronze Frog (Rana clamitans clamitans)

Buy Bronze Frog Camoflaged by naturegirl7
 

Pig Frog (Rana grylio)

Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala utricularia)

Eastern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans crepitans)

Coastal Plain Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus gryllus)

Buy Cricket Frog by naturegirl7
 

Cope's Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
Here it's Call.

Common Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)


Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)
Sounds of the Green Tree Frog.


Pine Woods Tree Frog (Hyla femoralis)

FROG DREAMS Art Poster by RavenSpiritPrints

Most amphibians begin their lives in the water as tadpoles, or larvae, which breathe by means of external gills instead of lungs. At first the tadpole has no definite shape, and no tail can be seen. The mouth is a V-shaped sucker on the underside of the body. As the head grows, a round mouth with a horny rim develops. At the same time, the tadpole grows a flat, fin-like tail. The tiny creature later changes to adult form and breathes at least partly through lungs. This transformation process is called metamorphosis (from the Greek meta, meaning "change," and morphe, meaning "form"). The larval stage lasts from several weeks to one year, depending on the particular species and upon environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Certain species of amphibians, particularly among the salamanders, remain in larval form all their lives. This phenomenon is called neoteny.

The larvae of the three orders differ from one another in several ways. The salamander (urodele) larvae are long and slender, with limbs, three pairs of gills, and large mouths. The frogs and toads (anurans), with short trunks and small mouth openings, lack lungs, eyelids, jaws, and legs. They look much more like fishes than like frogs or toads. The Caecilians (order gymnophiona) larvae are limbless and slender and have distinctive gills.

Although a female amphibian is capable of producing thousands of offspring during the course of a lifetime, the general population of amphibians remains about the same. This is because during the process of metamorphosis many die and others are destroyed by predators.

Metamorphosis alters the feeding and breathing habits of an animal as well as its physical shape. Amphibians change from gill breathers to lung breathers. They also change from plant eaters to meat eaters. Adults eat insects or small animals, especially mollusks, worms, and other amphibians. Some frogs also eat small mammals and birds.

Most amphibians reach maturity at three or four years. They breed for the first time about one year after metamorphosis.

Most amphibians lay their eggs in a moist place. Frogs and toads mate in water and lay their eggs in a stream, pond or pool. Frog eggs are laid in a clump. Toad eggs are laid in a long necklace-like string.

Each year, after the spring and summer rains, the frogs and toads in the surrounding woods come alive with a chorus of mating songs. They take advantage of the low areas where water has collected to lay their eggs.

Many gather in the water that collects in the low spots in our primitive road that goes to the Tchefuncte River. Many times we have collected hundreds of tadpoles and moved them to more permanent water holes to save them from sure death as the waters receded.

"Frogs are Precious!" Art Posters by RavenSpiritPrints

All over the world, scientists are racing to save many species of amphibians from extinction. Numbers were already down as a result of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, but now an exotic fungus (amphibian chytrid fungus) is nailing the lid on the coffin for many amphibians. But there is a sliver of hope. Through research and rescues, scientists are helping some species that were on the brink of extinction. The April, 2009 issue of National Geographic Magazine gives a detailed description of the problem and hopefully, the cure.

Save Gray Treefrogs by naturegirl7

"Frogs Rock!" Art Poster by RavenSpiritPrints

To See More Designs, Please Visit Our
Naturally Native Gallery.

Buy Salamander Lover Posters by naturetees

Amphiumas, Sirens and Mudpuppies
Three-toed Amphiuma, Amphiuma tridactylum
Two-toed Amphiuma, Amphiuma means
Western Lesser Siren, Siren intermedia nettingi
Gulf Coast Waterdog, Necturus beyeri
Red River Waterdog, Necturus louisianensis

Mole Salamanders and Newts
Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum
Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum
Mole Salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum
Small-mouthed Salamander, Desmognathus auriculatus
Eastern Spotted Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens

Woodland Salamanders
Eastern Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum
Southern Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus auriculatus
Spotted Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus conanti
Southern Two-lined Salamander, Eurycea cirrigera
Three-lined Salamander, Eurycea guttolineata
Dwarf Salamander, Eurycea quadridigitata
Four-toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum
Louisiana Slimy Salamander, Plethodon kisatchie
Mississippi Slimy Salamander, Plethodon mississippi
Southern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon serratus
Webster's Salamander, Plethodon websteri
Gulf Coast Mud Salamander, Pseudotriton montanus flavissimus
Southern Red Salamander, Pseudotriton ruber vbioscai

Reference: Jeff Boundy, herpetologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Dundee and Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana.