North Carolina Amphibians By Name

Click below to discover the many fascinating amphibians that swim, skitter, hop, crawl, and float around North Carolina.

American Toad
American Toad Bufo americanus. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.
Bullfrog
Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. Lithobates catesbeianus. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.
Eastern Newt
Eastern Newt Notophthalmus virdescens. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.
Green Frog
Green Frog Rana clamitans. Lithobates clamitans. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.
Green Tree Frog
Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea. Dryophytes cinereus. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.
Squirrel Tree Frog
Squirrel Tree Frog Hyla squirella on car window. Dryophytes squirellus. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Amphibian Orders

Frogs and Toads: Order Salientia

Families Include:

  • Ascaphidea – Tailed Frogs*
  • Bufonidae – Toads
  • Hylidae – Treefrogs
  • Leptodacttlidae – Leptodactylid Frogs*
  • Microhylidae – Narrow-mouthed Frogs
  • Pelobatidae – Spadefoot Toads
  • Pipidae – Tongueless Frogs*
  • Ranidae – True Frogs
  • Rhinophrynidae – Burrowing Toads*

*No species classified within this family is found in North Carolina

North Carolina Frog and Toad Species Include:

General Characteristics of Frogs and Toads

  • Well-developed, splayed fore legs
  • Long, muscular hind legs, adapted for jumping
  • Tail-less in their adult forms
  • Strong-voiced; communicate through sound and have large, well-developed tympanums on their heads.
  • Carnivorous as adults.
  • Most—but not all—species lay their eggs in water, and go through a tadpole stage before transforming into their adult forms.

Salamanders: Order Caudata

Families Include:

  • Cryptobranchidae – Giant Salamanders
  • Sirenidae – Sirens
  • Salamandridae – Newts
  • Proteidae – Mudpuppies and Waterdogs
  • Amphiumidae – Amphiumas
  • Ambystomidae – Mole Salamanders
  • Plethodontidae – Lungless Salanders

North Carolina Salamander Species Include:

General Characteristics of Salamanders

  • Secretive, rarely encountered casually
  • Typically nocturnal
  • Carnivorous throughout their lives
  • Slender bodies with long tails and four legs of equal length and size.
  • Often mistaken for lizards.
    • Differentiated from lizards by:
      • Moist skin
      • Lack of claws
      • Lack of external ear openings
  • Most species lay eggs in water; some lay eggs in moist cavities on land.

North Carolina Amphibians By Type