List of amphibians of Arkansas

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.

Frogs and toads

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Order: Anura - frogs and toads

Family: Bufonidae - true toads

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
 [n 1] Dwarf American toad Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi
(Bragg, 1954)
Secure[2] Non-nominate subspecies Statewide
  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 Arkansas Statewide

Family: Hylidae - tree frogs

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Blanchard's cricket frog Acris blanchardi
Harper, 1947
Secure[4] Statewide
  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
  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
  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 Dryophytes squirellus
(Daudin, 1800)
Critically imperiled[9] Sometimes put in the genus Hyla Southeastern and south-central Arkansas
  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
(Wied-Neuwied, 1838)
Secure[11] Mostly statewide, more scattered throughout the east
  Cajun chorus frog Pseudacris fouquettei
Lemmon et al., 2008
Secure[12] Statewide except southeast and north-central
  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]
  Boreal chorus frog Pseudacris maculata
Agassiz, 1850
Imperiled[14] Only confirmed from Pea Ridge National Military Park in Benton County
  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

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Eastern narrow-mouthed toad Gastrophryne carolinensis
(Holbrook, 1835)
Secure[16] Statewide
  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

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Crawfish frog Lithobates areolatus Imperiled[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
(Mecham et al., 1973)
Critically imperiled[19] Northern Mississippi County
  American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
(Shaw, 1802)
Secure[20] Statewide
  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
  Pickerel frog Lithobates palustris
(Le Conte, 1825)
Apparently secure[22] Northern and southwestern Arkansas, scattered records statewide
  Coastal Plains leopard frog Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius
(Harlan, 1825)
Secure[23][n 3] Non-nominate subspecies Statewide
  Wood frog Lithobates sylvaticus
(Le Conte, 1825)
Vulnerable[24] Northwestern Arkansas, in Ozark Highlands and Boston Mountains[1]

Family: Scaphiopodidae - American spadefoots

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Eastern spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii
(Harlan, 1835)
Imperiled[25] Formerly considered the same species as Hurter's spadefoot Northeastern Arkansas, historical records south of this along the Mississippi River may represent this species or Hurter's spadefoot[1]
  Hurter's spadefoot Scaphiopus hurterii
Strecker, 1910
Imperiled[26] Formerly considered the same species as the eastern spadefoot Along 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]
  Plains spadefoot Spea bombifrons
(Cope, 1863)
Critically imperiled[27] Along the Arkansas River in central Arkansas

Newts and salamanders

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Order: Caudata

Family: Ambystomatidae - mole salamanders

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Ringed salamander Ambystoma annulatum
Cope, 1886
Vulnerable[28] Northwestern and western Arkansas
  Spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum
(Shaw, 1802)
Secure[29] Statewide
  Marbled salamander Ambystoma opacum
(Gravenhorst, 1807)
Secure[30] Statewide except northwest
  Mole salamander Ambystoma talpoideum
Holbrook, 1838
Vulnerable[31] Southwestern Arkansas, and east of the Black River in the northeast
  Small-mouthed salamander Ambystoma texanum
(Matthes, 1855)
Secure[32] Most of Arkansas except north-central
  Eastern tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum
(Green, 1825)
Vulnerable[33] Eastern Springfield Plateau in northern Arkansas

Family: Amphiumidae - Amphiumas

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Three-toed amphiuma Amphiuma tridactylum
Cuvier, 1827
Secure[34] Southern, eastern, and central Arkansas

Family: Cryptobranchidae - giant salamanders

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Ozark hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Critically 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

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Ouachita dusky salamander Desmognathus brimleyorum
Stejneger, 1895
Secure[36] Western and central Arkansas
  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
Dunn, 1916
Introduced[1] Introduced to Spavinaw Creek in Benton County
  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
  Spotted-tail salamander Eurycea lucifuga
Rafinesque, 1822
Apparently secure[39] Northern Arkansas, west of the Black River
  Dark-sided salamander Eurycea melanopleura
(Cope, 1894)
Not assessed Northern Arkansas, west of the Black River
  Many-ribbed salamander Eurycea multiplicata
(Cope, 1869)
Secure[40] Western-central Arkansas
  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
  Western dwarf salamander Eurycea paludicola
(Mittleman, 1947)
Vulnerable[42] Southern Arkansas
  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
  Oklahoma salamander Eurycea tynerensis
Moore & Hughes, 1939
Vulnerable[45] Northern and northwestern Arkansas
  Four-toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum
(Temminck, 1838
Imperiled[46] Western Arkansas in central Ouachita Mountains, distinct population in Cleburne County
  Western slimy salamander Plethodon albagula
Grobman, 1944
Apparently secure[47] Forms a species complex with P. kiamichi and P. kisatchie Northern, central, and eastern Arkansas, with a disjointed population centered around Bradley County[1]
  Ozark zigzag salamander Plethodon angusticlavius
Grobman, 1944
Vulnerable[48] Northwestern and north-central Arkansas
  Caddo Mountain salamander Plethodon caddoensis
C. H. Pope & S. H. Pope, 1951
Imperiled[49] Endemic to Arkansas Western part of the Caddo Mountain range within the Ouachita Mountains
  Fourche Mountain salamander Plethodon fourchensis
Duncan & Highton, 1979
Imperiled[50] Endemic to Arkansas Fourche and Iron Forks mountain ranges within the Ouachita Mountains
  Kiamichi slimy salamander Plethodon kiamichi
Highton, 1989
Critically imperiled[51] Forms a species complex with P. albagula and P. kisatchie Eastern edge of Kiamichi Mountains in Polk County, Scott County, and Sebastian County
  Louisiana slimy salamander Plethodon kisatchie
Highton, 1989
Imperiled[52] Forms a species complex with P. albagula and P. kiamichi Southern shore of Ouachita River in Union County
  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-backed salamander Plethodon serratus
Grobman, 1944
Vulnerable[54] Most of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas

Family: Proteidae - mudpuppies

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Red River mudpuppy Necturus louisianensis
Viosca, 1938
Secure[55] Phylogeny and distribution of the mudpuppies is poorly understood Most major rivers, lakes, and streams throughout the state, Red River and Mississippi River populations may represent different species[1]

Family: Salamandridae - newts

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  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

Image Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution
  Western lesser siren Siren nettingi
Goin, 1942
Secure[57] Formerly considered conspecific with Siren intermedia Southern, central, and eastern Arkansas

Species potentially in Arkansas

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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

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  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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "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. ^ a b 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.