Amphibians

Southern leopard frog.

NPS photo

In the Everglades, the fine line between water and land often blurs. Consequently, the park serves as the perfect habitat for a number of amphibious species. Frogs and toads are particularly conspicuous and routinely serenade the landscape with a loud and unusual chorus.

 

Meet the Amphibians of Everglades National Park!

Hop into the soggy world of the Everglades, where slippery frogs croak in the marshes, elusive salamanders slink through the muck, and tiny toads hide in the grass. With 17 amphibian species, this park is a wet wonderland of slimy stars. Dive into some of the standout residents below and uncover their Everglades tales!

(Key: 🟥 = Federally Endangered (E), 🟧 = Federally Threatened (T), 🟪 = Invasive/Exotic (I), ❓ = Unknown (U), 🟩 = Common (C))

Common Name	Scientific Name	Status	Everglades Spotlight
Order Anura (Frogs & Toads)
Florida cricket frog	Acris gryllus	🟩 C	A tiny chirper hopping like a cricket through the grass.
Oak toad	Bufo quercicus	🟩 C	A pint-sized toad croaking under the park’s oaks.
Southern toad	Bufo terrestris	🟩 C	A warty wanderer belting out a loud trill in the night.
Greenhouse frog	Eleutherodactylus planirostris	🟪 I	A tiny invader from Cuba, chirping from the leaf litter.
Eastern narrow-mouth toad	Gastrophryne carolinensis	🟩 C	A pointy-nosed hider bleating like a sheep in the mud.
Green treefrog	Hyla cinerea	🟩 C	A lime-green climber sticking to leaves with a loud bark.
Squirrel treefrog	Hyla squirella	🟩 C	A color-changing trickster chattering like a squirrel.
Cuban treefrog	Osteopilus septentrionalis	🟪 I	A big, bold invader croaking from the treetops.
Florida chorus frog	Pseudacris nigrata	🟩 C	A chorus crooner singing in harmony after the rain.
Little grass frog	Pseudacris ocularis	🟩 C	A mini maestro with a high-pitched peep in the grass.
Pig frog	Rana grylio	🟩 C	A grunting giant oinking like a pig in the swamps.
Southern leopard frog	Rana sphenocephala	🟩 C	A spotted leaper hopping through the wetlands with a chuckle.
Eastern spadefoot toad	Scaphiopus holbrookii	❓ U	A mysterious digger burrowing into the park’s sandy secrets.
Order Caudata (Salamanders & Newts)
Two-toed amphiuma	Amphiuma means	🟩 C	An eel-like swimmer slithering through the water with two tiny toes.
Peninsula newt	Notophthalmus viridescens	🟩 C	A bright orange wanderer darting through the park’s pools.
Everglades dwarf siren	Pseudobranchus axanthus	🟩 C	A tiny, gilled eel hiding in the Everglades’ shallow waters.
Greater siren	Siren lacertina	🟩 C	A long, slimy siren wailing its eerie call in the night.

Sources: Meshaka, W.E., Loftus, W.F., and Steiner, T. (2000) The Herpetofauna of Everglades National Park. Florida Scientist, 63(2)84-103; Steiner, T., and Loftus, W.F. (1991) Amphibians & Reptiles of Everglades National Park. Miami: Everglades Association.