How to Identify Frogs

When it comes to pet ownership, reptile owners are a different breed. Choosing the cool and slithery takes a special person. Frogs are among the most unique and popular reptilian pets today. In order to choose the right frog for you, you'll first need to know how to identify frogs. Here are some steps for identification.

Things You'll Need

• Your eyes
• Your ears
• Frogs

Instructions

Frogs by Sight

1. Find a frog, whether it be in the wild, in a picture or in a pet store.

2. Look for the following features when you are identifying a frog by sight: Size of the frog, color, distinguishing markings, toe tips. These are all clues that will help you identify the frog later.

3. Use resources available to you to help identify the frog. Look for books on breeds of frog, consult with a pet store specialist, or consider joining a frog or herpotologist community online. The following websites may be helpful: http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA/, http://frognirvana.com/frogs-articles.php

Frogs by Sound

1. Locate a frog, again either in the wild or captivity. Wild frogs are best heard after sunset and later in the evening.

2. Listen for no more than three minutes, and take notes of what you hear. Cheeps, chirps and warbles are clues as to what type of frog you have found.

3. Find resources to help you with your identification. Check at the local college, sometimes biology professors are willing to help with this. Also, the following website can be helpful: http://databook.fhk.gov.tw/amphibian/English/identify/voice-find.asp. Check to see if your state has a website dedicated to frogwatching. A popular site in California is: http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/frogscalls.html. Joining a frog community on-line or in your town is a good idea. You can get more exposure to different frogs by people who already own them.

Tips & Warnings

• Only listen for frog sounds for 3 minutes. After that, you start to second guess yourself. When observing frogs in the wild, never disturb them. It will make your observation very difficult if the frogs all run for cover.