The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: Brown, tan, green, or bronze base color. Large dark brown, green, or black spots with light borders on the dorsal and sides. The rear legs have a barred pattern and the rear of the thighs have dark spots. The dorsolateral ridges are unbroken. A dark spot on the snout and a well-defined light stripe runs along the upper lip. The underside is cream or off-white colored. 

Call: A prolonged snore followed by a series of “clucks” or grunts lasting about 5 to 6 seconds. Two rounded vocal sacs extend over the shoulders when calling.  

Size: A medium-sized frog averaging 4 inches in length. 

Range and Habitat: This frog can be found nearly statewide in the appropriate habitat but appears to be extirpated in some historic areas due to the introduction of non-native species. It inhabits a variety of permanent water sources including streams, ponds, marshes, ditches, and lakes. It can be found within a variety of habitat types including desertscrub, grasslands, montane woodlands, and canyonlands. It can be found up to 10,000 feet in elevation.    

Similar Species: The Plains Leopard Frog has a broken dorsolateral ridge, a light spot on the center of the tympanum, and a reticulated pattern on the rear of the thighs.