Amphibians of Northern Virginia

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Amphibians of Northern Virginia
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Salamanders(Caudata)

• Ambystomatidae (Lunged Salamanders)

• Plethodontidae
• (Lungless Salamanders)

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Spotted Salamander(Ambystoma maculatum)
Lunged Salamanders
Large robust salamander with two rows of yellow
spots along a dark back.
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Jefferson Salamander(Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
Long dark and slender salamander with flecks of
blue along sides.
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Marbled Salamander(Ambystoma opacum)
Exhibits marbling. Breeds in fall before vernal
pools fill.
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Lungless Salamanders
Northern Dusky (Desmognathus fucus)
Brown nondescript salamander with a white line
from eye to back of the jaw. Found in seeps and
small streams.
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Red-backed Salamander(Plethodon cinereus)
Found in woodlots often far from water. Our most
common salamander
Lead-back Phase
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Two-lined Salamander(Eurycea bislineata)
Two dark lines, one on each side. Found in
streams and seeps
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White Spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon
glutinosus
Becomes tacky when picked up, almost glue like.
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Red SalamanderPlethodon cinereus
Bright orange with large black spotting. Golden
eyes, no stripes.
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Spring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus
Orange color with small black flecking. A
distinct white line from eye to snout.
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Newts
Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
Three life phases Larva, Red eft (land phase)
and Adult newt (aquatic).
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Frogs and Toads(Anura)
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American Toad(Bufo Americanus)
Warty skin with less then three warts per dark
spot on back. Voice A long trill.
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Fowlers Toad(Bufo woodhousei)
Warty skin with three or more warts per dark spot
on back
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True Frogs(Ranidae)
Bull Frog (Rana catesebienna)
A fold of skin runs from the eye to back of the
jaw. Voice Rum, Rum
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Green Frog(Rana clamitans)
A fold of skin runs from eye to lower
back. Voice Sounds like a loose pluck banjo
string.
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Wood Frog(Rana sylvatica)
Voice A grumbling Quack, Quack
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Pickerel Frog(Rana palustris)
Rectangular spots on back and sides.
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Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)
Round spots on back and sides.
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Tree Frogs(Hylidae/Acris)
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Small, has a distinct X on its back. Voice
Peep, Peep
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Gray Treefrog(Hyla versicolor/Chrysoscelis)
A tree frog with soft warty skin. A distinct
white patch beneath each eye.
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Green Treefrog(Hyla cinera)
Not recorded in Loudoun County, but found in
Fairfax County. Lime green with a distinct white
line along sides.
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Cricket Frog(Acris crepitans)
Small, found in meadows and along grassy ponds.
Has a small triangle between eyes and
neck. Voice Click, Click like pebbles being
hit together