Banded Bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra)

OTHER NAMES: Chubby Frog, Asian Painted Frog, Rice Frog Bubble Frog
Latin Etymology: Kaloula (?) pulchra (?)

Young Banded Bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 8cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Sometimes you go looking for wildlife, sometimes you find it obstructing the outdoor shoe cupboard at 5am while setting off to see different wildlife.  I have historically terrible luck in seeing amphibians internationally, and in fact this was my very first outside the UK!  The circumstances were a bit perculiar; not knowing whether it was poisonous or not (yes, but not in a dangerous to humans way it turns out according to the internet) I had to carefully nudge it with the shoe-cupboard door until it decided to move enough for me to retrieve my footware.

Related Species:
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Kaloula
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer: ហ៊ីង ("Hing")

- A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

OTHER NAMES: Lake Frog, Laughing Frog

Latin Etymology: Pelophylax (possibly "earth watcher") ridibundus ("laughing")

Two adult Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ribidundus - unknown subspecies) at Rainham Marshes, London - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: unknown
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 12-17cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An introduced species, the Marsh Frog is normally resident in Europe, but has established itself in parts of the UK. They can be seen in various sites around the Thames, but I've personally only seen them at Rainham marshes. They are a bit bigger than our native frogs, and also a lot noisier - they produce a stereotypical frog like croak, and can sometimes be seen inflating their cheeks to do so.

Related Species: 
Order: Anura 
Family: Ranidae 
Genus: Pelophylax 
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident of South-East England.

 - Seen at Oare Marshes and Rainham Marshes

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Common Newt
Latin Etymology: Lissotriton (possibly "smooth triton") vulgaris ("common")

Adult Smooth Newt (subspecies L. v. vulgaris) at Geddington, Northants - April 2011

Featured Subspecies: Lissotriton vulgaris vulgaris
Weight: 1.75-3.5g  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
 
Also known as the common newt, it is indeed the commonest of the three newts found in the United Kingdom. The males in the breeding season have a much more showy look with orange lines, dark spots and a wavy crest, while females, and other newts for the rest of the year appear as above. Newts in general are insectivorous, spend more time in the water than frogs and come onto the land at night to feed, while remaining in water during the day. Related Species:

Order: Caudata 
Family: Salamandridae 
Genus: Lissotriton 
SUBSPECIES: L. v. ampelensis, L. v. graecus, L. v. kosswigi, L. v. lantzi, L. v. meridionalis, L. v. schmidtlerorum, L. v. vulgaris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pelophylax ("mud sentinel") lessonae (named for Michele Lessona)

Adult male Pool Frog (subspecies ) at Great Pingo Trail, Norfolk - May 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 6-9cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species with a perculiar history in the UK - a population was long found in "pingos" in Norfolk - ancient glacial potholes from the ice age now turned into a scarce but rich habitat. It was long believed that these had been an in introduced population, however after their national extinction in the 90's, evidence was found proving their indigenous status.  As such, a reintroduction scheme has taken place, restoring them back to their ancestral ponds. 

Related Species:
Order: Anura 
Family: Ranidae 
Genus: Pelophylax 
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare and extremely localised reintroduced species, found at only 1 or 2 sites.
 - One seen on the Great Pingo Trail in May 2024

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Lithobates ("Rock climber") clamitans ("loud calling")

Adult Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) at St Charles, Illinois, USA- August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Northern Green Frog - Lithobates clamitans melanota
Weight: 28-85g  /  Length: 5-10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common species of frog found in the Eastern United States, they are an adaptable species capable of making use of various different bodies of water, and are moderately able to use suburban habitats.  Male Green Frogs are sexually mature in their first year or life, while females take 2-3 years, although there have also been documented instances of them being able to switch sexes.

Related Species:
Order: Anura 
Family: Ranidae 
Genus: Lithobates 
SUBSPECIES: L. c. clamitans, L. c. melanota

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in most of the Eastern Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Savage's Thin-toed Frog (Leptodactylus savagei)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Leptodactylus ("thin toed") savagei (Savage's)

Adult Savage's Thin-toed Frog (Leptodactylus savagei) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: 
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 14.6cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large nocturnal frog of Honduras to Colombia, their reproducive cycle inolves creating a 2-7 litre foam nest in which the eggs are laid which feed and keep the tadpoles moist during the entire cycle. During the breeding season, they are also noted for the males developing huge, thick forelimbs, seemingly to grasp females during mating. They are voracious predators and will eat more or less any prey that they can fit in their mouths.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Leptodactylus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sabinal Frog (Leptodactylus melanonotus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Leptodactylus ("slender finger") melanonotus ("black backed")

Adult Sabinal Frog (Leptodactylus melanonotus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small, highly versatile frog which can be found in a huge variety of habitats and is highly tolerant of degraded habitats being found from anything from mangroves to tropical forest to pasture and urban areas. It reproduces by digging a burrow and building a nest out of bubbles in areas that will flood, and when it does the tadpoles will hatch, thoguh if it fails the female will dig a channel to water.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Leptodactylus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A common and widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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