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Amphibian Life List

This is my list of all the amphibians I have seen and identified in my life. My latest find is the Ridge-headed Salamander.

Updated November 18, 2025

There are over 8,800 amphibians - frogs, toads, salamanders and newts - around the world. But unlike mammals or birds, Identifying amphibians comes slowly and often requires patience. Amphibians are dear to me and I often write about them in my notes.

I often draw sketches of some of my finds and hope to continuing doing so into the future. I also keep a life list of reptiles.

Amphibian List

Dicamptodontidae (Pacific Giant Salamanders)

Coastal Giant SalamanderDicamptodon tenebrosus

Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) — Copic marker and watercolor sketch showing a robust, mottled brown Pacific giant salamander typical of cold forest streams in the Pacific Northwest.

Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)

Amazonian Climbing SalamanderBolitoglossa palmata

Ridge-headed SalamanderBolitoglossa colonnea

Ridge-headed Salamander (Bolitoglossa striatula) — Copic and watercolor study of a slender, pale salamander from Costa Rica's Cartago Province, shown from above with fine speckling, elongated tail, and subtly raised cranial ridge.

EnsatinaEnsatina eschscholtzii

Dunn's SalamanderPlethodon dunni

Western Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon vehiculum

Red SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)

Northwestern SalamanderAmbystoma gracile

Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) — Copic and watercolor sketch emphasizing the sturdy build and parotoid areas of a Pacific Northwest mole salamander.

Salamandridae (Newts)

California NewtTaricha torosa

Rough-Skinned NewtTaricha granulosa

People who have lived in Oregon much longer than I have told me of the eerie disappearance of these amphibians over the past 50 years. The refrain is that they have vivid recollections of Rough-skinned Newts everywhere in the spring season. This newt is also one of the most toxic in North America, its toxin being similar to that of the Pufferfish.

Ranidae (True Frogs)

American BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

Lowland Leopard FrogLithobates yavapaiensis

Mississippi Gopher FrogLithobates sevosus

Northern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) — Copic and watercolor field sketch highlighting the frog's bright green dorsum, bold black oval spots, pale belly, and alert posture as it rests on a light wash surface.

Northern Red-legged FrogRana aurora

Brilliant Forest Frog

Brilliant Forest Frog (Hypsiboas calcaratus) — Copic and watercolor field sketch showing the frog's green, speckled dorsum, orange toes, and bold black and yellow thigh bands as it stretches across a light wash background.

Lithobates warszewitschii, photographed in Cartago Province, Costa Rica on a night walk during intense rains.

Hylidae (Treefrogs)

Spiny-headed Tree FrogTriprion spinosus

I saw this species in Cartago Province, Costa Rica. An adult was sitting on top of a water-filled bamboo trunk. About five tadpoles, on their way to becoming juvenile frogs, had filled the entire swimmable area of the bamboo pool. Since these pools are tiny, the female is known to lay unfertilized eggs for these young frogs to persist on.

Canyon TreefrogDryophytes arenicolor

Gray Tree FrogDryophytes versicolor

Pacific TreefrogPseudacris regilla

Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) — Copic and watercolor study of Oregon's small chorus frog with green dorsum and dark eye stripe, perched on a reed.

Yellow TreefrogDendropsophus microcephalus

Yellow Treefrog (Dendropsophus microcephalus), calling male with inflated vocal sac on broadleaf at night in El Valle de Antón, Panama; bright yellow-orange dorsum with darker blotches.

Panama Cross-banded Tree FrogSmilisca sila

Panama Cross-banded Tree Frog (Smilisca sila) — Copic and watercolor sketch highlighting the cross-banded pattern and broad head of this Neotropical hylid.

Neotropical Masked TreefrogSmilisca phaeota

Neotropical Masked Treefrog (Smilisca phaeota) — Copic and watercolor sketch showing the broad pale flanks and dark facial mask of this widespread Central American species, common in lowland Panama after evening rains.

Plain-colored TreefrogDendropsophus leali

Map Tree FrogBoana geographica

Map Tree Frog (Boana geographica) — Copic and watercolor sketch showing the intricate reticulated 'map-like' patterning across the dorsum.

Troschel's Tree Frog (Convict Tree Frog)Boana calcarata

Cuban Tree FrogOsteopilus septentrionalis

Dendrobatidae (Poison Frogs)

Strawberry Poison FrogOophaga pumilio

Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio) — bold Copic and watercolor study with bright red body and blue limbs, a classic Central American dendrobatid.

Three-striped Poison FrogAmeerega trivittata

Ecuador Poison FrogAmeerega bilinguis

Pale-striped Poison FrogAmeerega hahneli

Aromobatidae (Rocket Frogs)

Rainforest Rocket FrogSilverstoneia flotator

Colostethus ruthveniColostethus ruthveni

Leptodactylidae (Southern Frogs)

Smoky Jungle FrogLeptodactylus pentadactylus

Bufonidae (True Toads)

Leaf-Litter ToadRhaebo haematiticus

Cane ToadRhinella marina

Native to Central and South America, this large, warty toad is common throughout Panama and has become invasive in many parts of the world. It secretes potent bufotoxins from its parotoid glands and often thrives in disturbed or suburban environments.

Strabomantidae (Rain Frogs)

Santa Marta Tree FrogSerranobatrachus sanctaemartae

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Bird Life List

A list of all the birds I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Butterfly Life List

A list of all the butterflies I've identified in my life, with photographs.

Reptile Life List

A list of all the reptiles I've identfiied in my life, with illustrations.

Amphibian Life List

A list of all the amphibians I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Dragonflies and Damselflies List

A list of all the Odonata insects I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Mammal Life List

A list of all the mammals I've seen in my life.

Spider and Arachnid List

A collection of photographs of spiders and other arachnids I've seen while photographing for Notes from the Road.

Fishes Life List

Explore my list of fish species that I have identified.

Grateful Dead Jams

My list of extraordinary road-trip approved Grateful Dead jams.

Phish Jams

My list of the best Phish jams for traveling and road trips.

Alley Cats of the World

My gallery of feral, stray and wild country cats.