List of amphibians of Arizona facts for kids

A map of Arizona

The following is a list of amphibians found in the state of Arizona. The Arizona tree frog is the state amphibian. The state is home to three salamander species.

Arizona is home to a wide variety of biotic systems as it is diverse topographically, geologically, and climatically. The area's sporadic mountains create "sky islands", wherein varying altitudes create drastically different environments inhabited by specific species. For example, the eastern barking frog is only found at altitudes of 1,280–1,890 m on Arizonan mountains. Although the state is mostly arid, river systems such as the Colorado River provide riparian habitats.

List of species

Order Anura

Family Bufonidae

Bufonidae is a family of toads, often called the "true toads". Although a widely varied family, Bufonidae includes the stereotypical toad: dry warty skin and shortened forelimbs and hindlimbs. Bufonids also carry potent skin toxins, sometimes concentrated in the parotoid gland.

Bufonidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Anaxyrus cognatus	Great Plains toad	Found in playa wetlands in Arizona
Anaxyrus debilis	Green toad	Found in southeastern Arizona
Anaxyrus microscaphus	Arizona toad	Found in the Virgin River basin of northwestern Arizona
Anaxyrus punctatus	Red-spotted toad	Abundant in central Arizona
Anaxyrus woodhousii	Woodhouse's toad	Found throughout the state

Family Hylidae

Hylidae is a family of frogs which are commonly found in the New World. They may be better known as tree frogs.

Hylidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Dryophytes arenicolor	Canyon tree frog	Inhaits arid environments and streambanks; often found in pools in canyons
Dryophytes wrightorum	Wright's mountain tree frog	Found in the Petran Montane Conifer Forest Biome along the Mogollon Rim

Family Leptodactylidae

Leptodactylidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Craugastor augusti	Eastern barking frog	Found in the Santa Rita, Pajarito, Huachuca, and Quinlan Mountains in southeast Arizona at elevations of 1,280–1,890 m; report of specimen found in Sierra Ancha mountains of central Arizona

Family Microhylidae

Microhylidae is a family of frogs. They can often be identified by their tear-dropped shape, hence the common name "narrow-mouthed frogs".

Microhylidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Gastrophryne olivacea	Great Plains narrowmouth frog	Inhabit south-central Arizona

Family Ranidae

Ranidae, true frogs, are the largest family of frogs. Members of this family, called Ranids, typically have robust hindlimbs, toe webbing, and an aquatic tadpole stage.

Ranidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Lithobates berlandieri	Rio Grande leopard frog	Inhabit the Gila River drainage and associated croplands from Phoenix to the Colorado River confluence
Lithobates blairi	Plains leopard frog	An isolated population cluster in southeastern Arizona
Lithobates catesbeianus	Bullfrog	Common in Arizona

Family Scaphiopodidae

Scaphiopodidae are a family of frogs. Commonly called spadefoot frogs, they are often inconspicuously coloured. Members of this family are predominantly fossorial, living underground until rain arrives. To aid in digging, they have keratinized protrusions on their feet.

Scaphiopodidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Spea bombifrons	Plains spadefoot toad	Found in eastern Arizona
Scaphiopus couchii	Couch's spadefoot toad	Central and southeastern portions of the state

Order Urodela

Family Ambystomatidae

Ambystomatidae

Species	Common name	Distribution	Status	Image
Ambystoma mavortium	Barred tiger salamander	Introduced to southern Arizona
Ambystoma rosaceum	Tarahumara salamander	Present in Arizona
Ambystoma tigrinum	Eastern tiger salamander	Distinct subspecies Ambystoma tigrinum stebbinsi, known as the Sonora tiger Salamander found on southern border