Tiger Salamander
(Ambystoma tigrinum)
The tiger salamander is the only salamander species found in South Dakota. Tiger salamanders are terrestrial 4-legged, tailed amphibians, and are usually found in water or on in moist areas on land. Adults are sometimes mistaken for lizards, but unlike reptiles, salamanders have moist, scaleless skin, bulging eyes, and no claws on their feet. Adult tiger salamanders have a broad head, long sticky tongue, and their mouth looks like a smile. The adult normal body length for a tiger salamander is 6 to 8 inches (15 - 20 cm) with a record length of 13 inches (33 cm). The salamander's black or brownish body is covered with olive or yellow bars, blotches, or spots.

Mudpuppy
(Necturus maculosus)
Mudpuppies are a rare type of salamander found in South Dakota. Mudpuppies are aquatic salamanders and reside in permanent bodies of water. In contrast to more familiar amphibians such as frogs, mudpuppies never lose their gills during maturation from the tadpole into the adult stage, as they spend their entire lives under water. The adult gills resemble fish gills, but are external and lack any form of covering. Mudpuppies also absorb oxygen through their skin and by occasionally breathing air at the surface.

American Toad
(Bufo americanus)
South Dakota is at the far western limit of the range of the American toad and they are only found in the far eastern counties of this state. The average size of an American toads is 2 to 3.5 inches (5 - 8.9 cm) in length. Adult females are often larger than the males. American toads are usually a dull brown, but can range from yellowish to olive brown to dark gray with patches of lighter colors. The underside is lighter with dark spots. Their skin contains many glands that produce a mild poison to protect toads from predators.

Great Plains Toad
(Bufo cognatus)
The great plains toad is gray, brown, and green in color, with darker colored blotching. It can grow to 4.5 inches in length and is nocturnal. They prefer grassland habitat, with loose soil that is easy to burrow in.

Canadian Toad
(Bufo hemiophrys)
The average size for the Canadian toad 3 inches in length. It is very similar in appearance to the American toad; however, Canadian toads are white or light brown with dark spots scattered randomly about the back. These spots may be brown, black, or even reddish and are outlined in white. Their belly is light colored and has dark markings. The cranial boss or "bump" located between the eyes is the only consistent characteristic that distinguishes the Canadian toad from the American toad.

Woodhouse's Toad
(Bufo woodhousii)
Adults have dry skin with small warts, and are gray, brown, or olive green with paler mottling or spots. A prominent white or yellowish line runs down the center of the back . Adult body length is 2.5 to 5 inches.

Northern Cricket Frog
(Acris crepitans)
The northern cricket frog is one of South Dakota's smallest vertebrates. This frog is aquatic , and although it belongs to the tree-frog family, it does not climb very much. It is, however, among the most agile of leapers and can jump surprisingly long distances (5-6 feet) for its small size. Adults average only 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length; the male is usually smaller than the female. Cricket frogs exhibit a variation of patterns and combinations of black, yellow, orange or red on a base of brown or green. Distinguishing characteristics are its small size, dorsal warts, a blunt snout, a dark triangular-shaped spot between the eyes, and a ragged, longitudinal stripe on the thigh. The webbing on the hind foot is extensive, reaching the tip of the first toe and the next to last joint of the longest toe.

Cope's Gray Treefrog
(Hyla chrysoscelis)
Cope's gray tree frog has orange patches on the concealed portion of their legs. The overall color of the Cope's gray treefrog can also change from green or brown to almost white, depending upon changes in temperature and activity.

Gray Treefrog
(Hyla versicolor)
Gray tree frogs are, as their common name implies, gray in color. They can be light or dark gray, or light gray with darker gray, black, yellow or green mottling. They are relatively small compared to other North American frog species, typically attaining no more than 1.5 to 2 inches (4cm to 5cm) in length. Their skin has a lumpy texture to it, giving them a warty appearance. They are virtually indistinguishable from the Cope's Gray Tree Frog, they too have orange patches on the insides of their legs, the only readily noticeable difference being their call.

Western Chorus Frog
(Pseudacris triseriata)
Western Chorus Frogs are small (1.5 inch or about 40mm), gray or brown frogs with darker brown or gray blotches which extend down the body into almost full stripes. Their underside is typically white or cream colored. They have small toe pads to help climb small grasses, although they are mostly a ground dwelling species.

Boreal Chorus Frog
Boreal Chorus Frogs are the smallest frogs have a body length of less than 4 centimeters. They have a long body and comparatively short legs. Their long, straight toes have small, indistinct toe pads, and the webbing is only along the base of the toe. These frogs may be almost any color, including gray, tan, brown, red, olive, or green. A well-defined dark stripe runs along the side, from the tip of the nose through the eye to the groin. Three dark-colored, irregular stripes, often broken or blotched, usually run along the back. The skin on the underside is granular and pale, sometimes marked with a few dark spots on the throat and chest.

Plains Spadefoot
(Scaphiopus bombifrons)
The Plains Spadefoot Toad's shape typical of most burrowing frogs. They are round, with short legs and protruding eyes. As suggested by their name, this frog has hard, keratinous protrusion present on their feet, which helps them to dig. Like most burrowing frogs, they will dig backwards into the ground. The American spadefoot toads are terrestrial when not under ground. They are dully colored, usually a gray or dull green or brown.

Plains Leopard Frog
(Rana blairi)
The Plains Leopard Frog grows from 2 to 3.24 inches in length, and is typically brown in color. Their name originates from the distinctive irregular, dark colored spotting on their back. They have long, powerful legs and are capable of leaping great distances. Although found throughout semi-arid regions, the Plains Leopard Frog is almost always found in or very near permanent water sources, such as streams, creeks, and ponds. They are nocturnal. They are shy animals, often fleeing beneath the water if approached.

Bullfrog
(Rana catesbeiana)
The bullfrog is the largest frog in North America, growing to a length of 3.5 - 5 inches. Females are typically larger than males. They are generally varying shades of green or brown, with dark brown, dark green, or black blotching and a yellow or white underside. The American Bullfrog uses its skin, buccal cavity, and lungs for respiration. They are aptly named since their call is a loud, guttural bellow that carries a long distance, giving the impression that the frog is much larger than it actually is, which is an advantage in keeping predators away.

Northern Leopard Frog
(Rana pipiens)
The Northern Leopard Frog was once the most abundant and widespread frog species in North America. They are slender greenish to brownish frogs with dark spots which are usually edged with a lighter color. These frogs have a light stripe along their upper jaw. Northern Leopard Frogs tend to grow a little over 3 inches in length.

Wood Frog
(Rana sylvatica)
Wood frogs, Rana sylvatica, are native to the Nearctic region. They are found from through the northeastern United States, and all the way across Canada into Alaska. They are found farther north than any other North American reptile or amphibian. They are the only frogs found north of the Arctic Circle.

Wood frogs range from 1 - 3 inches in length. Females are much larger than males. This species ranges in color from browns, tans and rust, to shades of green and gray. In all cases however, they can be distinguished by a black patch that extends over the tympanum to the base of the front limb. It is this characteristic that causes them to be referred to as the frog with the "robber's mask". They are also known to have a white spot on the upper lip.

Blanchard's Cricket Frog
(Acris crepitans blanchardi)
The Blanchard's cricket frog is a tiny, only 7/8 to 1 1/4 inch in length, snout to vent. It's a non-climbing member of the treefrog family, and lives in ponds and streams of Eastern South Dakota. The frog is named for the biologist who first described it, Frank Nelson Blanchard, and for its distinctive cricket-like call. Male and female Blanchard's cricket frogs look alike, but females are usually larger. Males have a dark vocal sac on their throats that they inflate to help make their mating call. Their color varies, but is usually brown, gray, olive, or tan, sometimes with a green or reddish stripe running down the middle, with white bellies. Their moist skin has raised reddish spots, or warts. There is a dark triangle or V-shaped spot between their eyes, often rust or lime green in color.