Animal Profiles
Amphibians

Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The wood frog is a cold-adapted North American frog with a dark mask behind the eye. Adults spend much of the year on land and return to shallow pools to breed.

Lithobates sylvaticus (wood frog)

Brian Gratwicke · CC BY

At a glance

Habitat
Temperate forest, Tundra, Wetlands
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Insects and other small invertebrates.

Classification

Common name
Wood Frog
Browse group
Amphibians
Scientific name or taxon
Lithobates sylvaticus
Taxon rank
species
Order
Anura
Family
Ranidae
Genus
Lithobates
Source classification
Amphibia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Adults have a dark eye mask.
  • Breeding often takes place in temporary pools.
  • Tadpoles and adults eat different foods.

Habitat and range

Wood frogs occur across northern North America and extend south through parts of the eastern United States. Forests, bogs, wet meadows and tundra provide cover around seasonal breeding pools.

Appearance and adaptations

Brown, tan or reddish skin blends with leaf litter. A dark patch behind each eye and a pale upper-lip line help distinguish the species.

Diet and behaviour

Adults eat insects, spiders, snails and other small invertebrates. They move to fish-free pools for breeding, often returning to familiar areas. Tadpoles consume algae and decaying material as well as some animal matter.

Sources

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