List of amphibians of Arkansas

Last updated

The U.S. state of Arkansas is located in the central part of the country. This list is derived largely from the Herps of Arkansas website. [1] Conservation status is derived from NatureServe and represents the species' status within the state rather than their worldwide status. In Arkansas, there are 25 species of frog and toad, and 32 species of newts and salamanders. Of these species, 18 are ranked as "secure", 6 are "apparently secure", 10 are "vulnerable", 11 are "imperiled", 7 are "critically imperiled", and 1 is "possibly extirpated"; 3 species are not assessed.

Contents

Frogs and toads

Order: Anura - frogs and toads

Family: Bufonidae - true toads

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Bufo americanus Toad 2.JPG [n 1] Dwarf American toad Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi
(Bragg, 1954)
Secure [2] Non-nominate subspecies Statewide
Anaxyrus fowleri Stanton 1.jpg Fowler's toad Anaxyrus fowleri
(Hinckley, 1882)
Secure [3] Hybridizes with Woodhouse's toad in the southwestern part of the state, but A. woodhousii is not itself known to occur in ArkansasStatewide

Family: Hylidae - tree frogs

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Blanchard's cricket frog - Acris crepitans blanchardi. (14586138786).jpg Blanchard's cricket frog Acris blanchardi
Harper, 1947
Secure [4] Statewide
Western Bird-Voiced Tree Frog (Hyla avivoca avivoca) (10236680104).jpg Western bird-voiced tree frog Dryophytes avivoca avivoca
(Viosca, 1928)
Vulnerable [5] [n 2] Sometimes put in the genus Hyla Along various waterways throughout southwestern and central Arkansas
Hyla chrysoscelis UMFS 2016 2.jpg Cope's gray tree frog Dryophytes chrysoscelis
(Cope, 1880)
Apparently secure [6] Usually indistinguishable from Dryophytes versicolor without DNA analysis or analysis of mating call [7]
Sometimes put in the genus Hyla
Most of Arkansas except the northwest
Dryophytes cinereus (Green Tree Frog) 03.jpg Green tree frog Dryophytes cinereus
(Schneider, 1799)
Secure [8] Sometimes put in the genus Hyla Most of Arkansas except north-central and northwest
Squirrel Tree Frog - Hyla squirella, Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area, Immokalee, Florida.jpg Squirrel tree frog Dryophytes squirellus
(Daudin, 1800)
Critically imperiled [9] Sometimes put in the genus Hyla Southeastern and south-central Arkansas
Unidentified frog or toad.jpg Gray tree frog Dryophytes versicolor
(Le Conte, 1825)
Apparently secure [10] Usually indistinguishable from Dryophytes chrysoscelis without DNA analysis or analysis of mating call [7]
Sometimes put in the genus Hyla
Northwestern Arkansas
Spring Peeper - Pseudacris crucifer, Mason Neck, Virginia (36514796613).jpg Spring peeper Pseudacris crucifer
(Wied-Neuwied, 1838)
Secure [11] Mostly statewide, more scattered throughout the east
Cajun Chorus Frog (Pseudacris fouquettei).jpg Cajun chorus frog Pseudacris fouquettei
Lemmon et al., 2008
Secure [12] Statewide except southeast and north-central
Illinois Chorus Frog (Pseudacris illinoensis) (44546804495).jpg Illinois chorus frog Pseudacris illinoensis
Smith, 1951
Critically imperiled [13] Sand prairies of eastern Clay County, although its habitat has recently been converted to agricultural land [1]
Pseudacris maculata 331243546.jpg Boreal chorus frog Pseudacris maculata
Agassiz, 1850
Imperiled [14] Only confirmed from Pea Ridge National Military Park in Benton County
Pseudacris streckeri streckeri01.jpg Strecker's chorus frog Pseudacris streckeri
A. A. Wright & A. H. Wright, 1933
Imperiled [15] Along the Arkansas River in central and western Arkansas

Family: Microhylidae - narrow-mouthed frogs

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Gastrophryne carolinensis01.jpg Eastern narrow-mouthed toad Gastrophryne carolinensis
(Holbrook, 1835)
Secure [16] Statewide
Gastrophryne olivacea, Western Narrow-mouthed Toad, Tamaulipas.jpg Western narrow-mouthed toad Gastrophryne olivacea
Hallowell, 1856
Imperiled [17] Generally along the Arkansas River in central and western Arkansas, southern and northwestern populations of uncertain validity

Family: Ranidae - typical frogs

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Rana areolata.jpg Crawfish frog Lithobates areolatusImperiled [18] Subspecies L. a. areolatus across most of range, L. a. circulosus may occur in southwest [1] Northeast, northwest, southwest, and along Arkansas River until Lake Maumelle, where the range extends northeast to the intersection of the Black River and White River [1]
Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi).jpg Plains leopard frog Lithobates blairi
(Mecham et al., 1973)
Critically imperiled [19] Northern Mississippi County
Americanbullfrog.jpg American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
(Shaw, 1802)
Secure [20] Statewide
Lithobates clamitans in drain pipe MD2.jpg Green frog Lithobates clamitans
(Latreille, 1801)
Apparently secure [21] Two subspecies:
  • The northern green frog (L. c. melanota) occurs in the northwest and central parts of Arkansas
  • The bronze frog (L. c. clamitans) occurs in the northeast, east, and south
Statewide
PickerelFrogConnecticut.jpg Pickerel frog Lithobates palustris
(Le Conte, 1825)
Apparently secure [22] Northern and southwestern Arkansas, scattered records statewide
Southern leopard frog (15984949192).jpg Coastal Plains leopard frog Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius
(Harlan, 1825)
Secure [23] [n 3] Non-nominate subspecies Statewide
Lithobates sylvaticus - Wood Frog 02.jpg Wood frog Lithobates sylvaticus
(Le Conte, 1825)
Vulnerable [24] Northwestern Arkansas, in Ozark Highlands and Boston Mountains [1]

Family: Scaphiopodidae - American spadefoots

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) (34123575503).jpg Eastern spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii
(Harlan, 1835)
Imperiled [25] Formerly considered the same species as Hurter's spadefootNortheastern Arkansas, historical records south of this along the Mississippi River may represent this species or Hurter's spadefoot [1]
Hurter's Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus hurterii), Colorado Co., Texas USA (27 May 2014).jpg Hurter's spadefoot Scaphiopus hurterii
Strecker, 1910
Imperiled [26] Formerly considered the same species as the eastern spadefootAlong various rivers in northern and central Arkansas; widespread in southwest. Populations in southeast may be this species or eastern spadefoot. Northwestern populations are extirpated [1]
Spea bombifrons (2).jpg Plains spadefoot Spea bombifrons
(Cope, 1863)
Critically imperiled [27] Along the Arkansas River in central Arkansas

Newts and salamanders

Order: Caudata

Family: Ambystomatidae - mole salamanders

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) - Flickr - 2ndPeter.jpg Ringed salamander Ambystoma annulatum
Cope, 1886
Vulnerable [28] Northwestern and western Arkansas
Spotted Salamander - Ambystoma maculatum (15403871091).jpg Spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum
(Shaw, 1802)
Secure [29] Statewide
Marbled Salamander - Ambystoma opacum, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, Maryland.jpg Marbled salamander Ambystoma opacum
(Gravenhorst, 1807)
Secure [30] Statewide except northwest
Ambystoma talpoideum 85722293.jpg Mole salamander Ambystoma talpoideum
Holbrook, 1838
Vulnerable [31] Southwestern Arkansas, and east of the Black River in the northeast
Ambystoma texanum 168277250.jpg Small-mouthed salamander Ambystoma texanum
(Matthes, 1855)
Secure [32] Most of Arkansas except north-central
Ambystoma tigrinum 131716823.jpg Eastern tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum
(Green, 1825)
Vulnerable [33] Eastern Springfield Plateau in northern Arkansas

Family: Amphiumidae - Amphiumas

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Amphiuma tridactylum 63889874.jpg Three-toed amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum
Cuvier, 1827
Secure [34] Southern, eastern, and central Arkansas

Family: Cryptobranchidae - giant salamanders

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Ozark hellbender.jpg Ozark hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopiCritically imperiled [35] Sometimes raised to species status, [1] but usually considered a subspecies of eastern hellbender Formerly more widespread through northern Arkansas, now restricted to Eleven Point River in northern Randolph County

Family: Plethodontidae - lungless salamanders

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Ouachita dusky salamander (Desmognathus brimleyorum). Madden Haag.jpg Ouachita dusky salamander Desmognathus brimleyorum
Stejneger, 1895
Secure [36] Western and central Arkansas
Spotted Dusky Salamander - Desmognathus conanti (50115579376).jpg Spotted dusky salamander Desmognathus conanti
Rossman, 1958
Possibly extirpated [37] Possibly extirpated, formerly found along eastern edge of Crowley's Ridge in eastern Arkansas
Seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola).JPG Seal salamander Desmognathus monticola
Dunn, 1916
Introduced [1] Introduced to Spavinaw Creek in Benton County
Eurycea spelaea, Izard County, Arkansas, by Peter Paplanus.jpg Southern grotto salamander Eurycea braggi
(Smith, 1968)
Not assessed, least concern by IUCN [38] Endemic or mostly endemic to Arkansas
Forms a species complex with E. spelaea and E. nerea, only distinguished by range or genetic testing [1]
Between Beaver Lake and the Strawberry River on the Ozark Plateau
Eurycea longicauda 158779997.jpg Spotted-tail salamander Eurycea lucifuga
Rafinesque, 1822
Apparently secure [39] Northern Arkansas, west of the Black River
Eurycea longicauda melanopleura.jpg Dark-sided salamander Eurycea melanopleura
(Cope, 1894)
Not assessedNorthern Arkansas, west of the Black River
Eurycea multiplicata multiplicata.jpg Many-ribbed salamander Eurycea multiplicata
(Cope, 1869)
Secure [40] Western-central Arkansas
Grotto Salamander (Eurcyea spelaea) - Flickr - 2ndPeter.jpg Northern grotto salamander Eurycea nerea
(Bishop, 1944)
Not assessed, least concern by IUCN [41] Forms a species complex with E. spelaea and E. braggi, only distinguished by range or genetic testing [1] Between the Current River and Strawberry River, possibly further locations to the west
Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata) Polk Co. Texas. W. L. Farr.jpg Western dwarf salamander Eurycea paludicola
(Mittleman, 1947)
Vulnerable [42] Southern Arkansas
Eurycea spelaea (10.3897-subtbiol.24.15013) Figure 1.jpg Western grotto salamander Eurycea spelaea
(Stejneger, 1892)
Vulnerable [43] Forms a species complex with E. nerea and E. braggi, only distinguished by range or genetic testing [1] West of the White River in Benton County and Washington County
Ouachita streambed salamander Eurycea subfluvicola
Bonnett, 2014
Critically imperiled [44] Endemic to Arkansas Lake Catherine State Park, Hot Spring County
Eurycea tynerensis in Arkansas.jpg Oklahoma salamander Eurycea tynerensis
Moore & Hughes, 1939
Vulnerable [45] Northern and northwestern Arkansas
Hemidactylium scutatum Stanton 4.jpg Four-toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum
(Temminck, 1838
Imperiled [46] Western Arkansas in central Ouachita Mountains, distinct population in Cleburne County
Plethodon albagula, St. Louis County, Missouri.jpg Western slimy salamander Plethodon albagula
Grobman, 1944
Apparently secure [47] Forms a species complex with P. kiamichi and P. kisatchieNorthern, central, and eastern Arkansas, with a disjointed population centered around Bradley County [1]
Plethodon angusticlavius 171355236.jpg Ozark zigzag salamander Plethodon angusticlavius
Grobman, 1944
Vulnerable [48] Northwestern and north-central Arkansas
Plethodon caddoensis 267409776.jpg Caddo Mountain salamander Plethodon caddoensis
C. H. Pope & S. H. Pope, 1951
Imperiled [49] Endemic to ArkansasWestern part of the Caddo Mountain range within the Ouachita Mountains
Plethodon fourchensis 171429319.jpg Fourche Mountain salamander Plethodon fourchensis
Duncan & Highton, 1979
Imperiled [50] Endemic to ArkansasFourche and Iron Forks mountain ranges within the Ouachita Mountains
Plethodon kiamichi 162325964.jpg Kiamichi slimy salamander Plethodon kiamichi
Highton, 1989
Critically imperiled [51] Forms a species complex with P. albagula and P. kisatchieEastern edge of Kiamichi Mountains in Polk County, Scott County, and Sebastian County
Plethodon kisatchie 186707627.jpg Louisiana slimy salamander Plethodon kisatchie
Highton, 1989
Imperiled [52] Forms a species complex with P. albagula and P. kiamichiSouthern shore of Ouachita River in Union County
Plethodon ouachitae 162327257.jpg Rich Mountain salamander Plethodon ouachitae
Dunn & Heinze, 1933
Imperiled [53] Ouachita Mountains in northern Sevier County and a small part of bordering Polk County
Southern Red-Back Salamander (Plethodon serratus) - Flickr - 2ndPeter.jpg Southern red-backed salamander Plethodon serratus
Grobman, 1944
Vulnerable [54] Most of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas

Family: Proteidae - mudpuppies

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Red River Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) (42694782124).jpg Red River mudpuppy Necturus louisianensis
Viosca, 1938
Secure [55] Phylogeny and distribution of the mudpuppies is poorly understoodMost major rivers, lakes, and streams throughout the state, Red River and Mississippi River populations may represent different species [1]

Family: Salamandridae - newts

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis.jpg Central newt Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis
(Wolterstorff, 1914)
Secure [56] [n 4] Non-nominate subspecies Essentially statewide, more scattered throughout eastern part of Arkansas

Family: Sirenidae - sirens

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Western Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia nettingi) (24130304147).jpg Western lesser siren Siren nettingi
Goin, 1942
Secure [57] Formerly considered conspecific with Siren intermedia Southern, central, and eastern Arkansas

Species potentially in Arkansas

Some species are unconfirmed in Arkansas but may occur. Many of these species are separated from Arkansas by the Mississippi River, and may be common in the bordering regions of Mississippi and Tennessee. Other species may be hypothesized to occur in the state but are not confirmed. Some have gene flow and form species hybrids in the state with a more widespread species, but purebred members of one of the hybrid parent species are not confirmed. [1]

Notes

  1. This image shows the subspecies Anaxyrus americanus americanus; the Arkansas subspecies is not present on Wikimedia Commons
  2. Ranked at species level rather than subspecies level in Arkansas
  3. Ranked at species level rather than subspecies level in Arkansas
  4. Ranked at species level rather than subspecies level in Arkansas

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Identification Guide for Amphibians and Reptiles in Arkansas". Herps of Arkansas. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  2. "Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  3. "Anaxyrus fowleri". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. "Acris blanchardi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. "Dryophytes avivoca". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  6. "Dryophytes chrysoscelis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Roseman, Kimberly (2017). "The Utility of Hyla squirrella Microsatellite DNA Markers for Population Genetic Studies of Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis". Western Illinois University ProQuest Dissertations. ProQuest   1933027058.
  8. "Dryophytes cinereus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  9. "Dryophytes squirellus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  10. "Dryophytes versicolor". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  11. "Pseudacris crucifer". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  12. "Pseudacris fouquettei". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  13. "Pseudacris illinoensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  14. "Pseudacris maculata". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  15. "Pseudacris streckeri". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  16. "Gastrophryne carolinensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  17. "Gastrophryne olivacea". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  18. "Lithobates areolatus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  19. "Lithobates blairi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  20. "Lithobates catesbeianus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  21. "Lithobates clamitans". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  22. "Lithobates palustris". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  23. "Lithobates sphenocephalus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  24. "Lithobates sylvaticus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  25. "Scaphiopus holbrookii". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  26. "Scaphiopus hurterii". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  27. "Spea bombifrons". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  28. "Ambystoma annulatum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  29. "Ambystoma maculatum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  30. "Ambystoma opacum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  31. "Ambystoma talpoideum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  32. "Ambystoma texanum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  33. "Ambystoma tigrinum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  34. "Amphiuma tridactylum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  35. "Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  36. "Desmognathus brimleyorum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  37. "Desmognathus conanti". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  38. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2023). "Eurycea braggi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T200107550A200107602. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T200107550A200107602.en . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  39. "Eurycea lucifuga". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  40. "Eurycea multiplicata". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  41. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2023). "Eurycea nerea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T200107639A200107662. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T200107639A200107662.en . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  42. "Eurycea paludicola". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  43. "Eurycea spelaea". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  44. "Eurycea subfluvicola". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  45. "Eurycea tynerensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  46. "Hemidactylium scutatum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  47. "Plethodon albagula". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  48. "Plethodon angusticlavius". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  49. "Plethodon caddoensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  50. "Plethodon fourchensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  51. "Plethodon kiamichi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  52. "Plethodon kisatchie". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  53. "Plethodon ouachitae". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  54. "Plethodon serratus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  55. "Necuturs louisianensis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  56. "Notophthalmus viridescens". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  57. "Siren nettingi". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  58. Frost, Darrel R. "Desmognathus catahoula Pyron and Beamer, 2023". Amphibian Species of the World 6.2, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved September 25, 2024.