Bufo woodhousii fowleri
Toads are widely distributed throughout eastern North America; however,
they are uncommon in Rhode Island- found only in a few localized
areas. In Rhode Island, the breeding season for Fowler's toads starts
much later in the year than the more common American
Toad (Bufo americanus). They typically start to call
at breeding ponds from late May through June (Tupper 2001); whereas,
American toads are known to vocalize in April (Crouch
1999). Tupper, who study Fowler's toad ecology at 2 coastal
sites in Rhode Island, found that they begin to call soon after
emerging from hibernation (Tupper 2001).
Fowler's toads prefer habitats with sandy, well-drained soils.
Typical breeding sites include beaches, coasts, lake shores, or
river banks (Wright and Wright 1949).
They tend to breed in the shallow areas of permanent water (Wright
and Wright 1949).
Fowler's and American toads are thought to hybridize in areas
where habitat conditions are suitable to both species.
- Fowler's toad has a white venter,
with a small dark spot in the pectoral region, whereas the
American toad tends to have many dark spots on ventral
- Fowler's dorsal ground
color tends to be grayish, greenish, or whitish with large
- The large dark spots on dorsum of Fowler's typically
have 3 or 4 warts per spot, whereas American toads have
1-2 warts per spot.
- Their dorsums tend to be smoother than American toads.
- The vertebral stripe can be much more evident than in
- Male Fowler's toads have dark throats.
- Fowler's toads egg masses resemble those of American
toads, both are long, spiraling strings of several thousand
black eggs (P. Paton, pers. obs.).
- The tadpoles of both species are similar, and are difficult
to impossible to distinguish.
- The cranial ridges on top of the head have lateral branches
extending behind the eye. Behind these ridges are the
large bean-shaped parotoid glands. On Fowler's toad these
two features connect completely. In the American toad
theses two features do not touch or are connected by a
- Voice: the call of a Fowler's toad is a low-pitched
"waah", in contrast to the long trill of an
Fowler's toads and American toads will hybridize (Klemens
The Eastern spadefoot toad is probably the rarest and least known
species of frog that occurs in Rhode Island. They apparently prefer
lower elevation sites, although C. Raithel found one at 470 feet
(143 m) in Coventry, Rhode Island (Klemens
1993). Klemens (1993) reported on specimens from Providence
(in the early 1900s), Barrington, and Bristol County, while C. Raithel
recently documented specimens in the western half of the state.
Rhode Island is the northern limits of their range, which might
explains why there are less than 10 documented records of this species
in the state (C. Raithel pers comm.).
Scaphiopus h. holbrookii
notice the black tubercles (spades)on
the inside of the feet used for digging
Spadefoots appear to be a species that prefers sandy, well-drained
soils, but may also use clay or loamy soils (Klemens 1993). They
live where they can bury into the ground with their specially
adapted hind feet (see photo). They spend most of their time underground
but are active at night throughout the warmer months (Green
and Pauley 1987). In southern New England, these animals tend
to be most active from early May to late August (Klemens 1993).
- The only toad in Rhode Island with a golden eye and
a vertical pupil.
- Spadefoots are a moderately-sized toad with relatively
smooth skin and relatively small warts.
- They have a brownish, gray dorsum with two yellowish
- Their venter is white (photo at right).
- They have a unique hind foot, with a black tubercle
used for digging.
|Look closely -we placed
a metamorph on the back of an adult to
illustrate the difference in size of the two age groups
Leopard frogs are rare in Rhode Island and throughout the region
(Klemens 1993). In Rhode
Island, they are only known from scattered sites on Aquidneck Island
(Newport and Portmouth), Conanicut Island (Jamestown), and the eastern
side of Narragansett Bay (Raithel pers. comm.). All accounts of
leopard frogs west of the bay are erroneous and are most likely
the more common and similar looking pickerel frog (Rana palustris).
These two species are frequently confused (see pickerel
Leopard frogs prefer open, grassy habitats near large rivers
or streams (Klemens 1993). They are semi-terrestrial spending
only the summer months (June-to August) away from water (Hinshaw
1999). During the winter, they hibernate in the substrate
of permanent ponds and in the spring they migrate to breeding
ponds (Green and Pauley 1987).
Leopard frogs are commonly used during biology classes.
Red morph (left), "leadback"
The redback salamander is the most common amphibian in Rhode
Island. They are a small, terrestrial species that occurs most
often in coniferous and deciduous woodland habitats (Klemens
1993) but, can be found virtually anywhere throughout the
state, with the exception of some islands (C. Raithel pers. comm.).
Redback salamanders are common throughout eastern North America.
In New Hampshire, Burton and Likens
(1975) estimated that this species accounted for 94% of the
amphibian biomass in the forest, and was twice as great as the
biomass of the avifauna and equal to the biomass of the small
The redback is the only entirely terrestrial salamander in Rhode
Island. So, although this species may be captured near ponds,
they breed in upland habitats. They lay their eggs under rotten
logs and small underground crevices. In the spring, the yellowish
embryos can be seen under the translucent skin of gravid
females (P. Paton, pers. obs.). Females can also be distinguished
from males by head shape- males tend to have a squared-off nose,
whereas females have a rounder head.
Several color morphs exist for this species. The two most common
morphs have either a red stripe running the length of the dorsum,
or a dorsum uniformly dark gray to black (usually referred to
as a leadback). Another form is the rare erythristic morph which
is bright red or pinkish on the dorsum.
Desmognathus f. fuscus
The northern dusky salamander is found throughout eastern
North America, and is widely distributed in southern New
England (Klemens 1993);
however, it is relatively uncommon in Rhode Island (C. Raithel
in Klemens 1993). Dusky salamanders are usually found in
forested areas in cool springs or small streams, where they
are often detected under large flat stones, pieces of wood,
bark or other debris. They remain in these areas year round,
seldom wandering far from running water (Conant
and Collins 1998).
Duskies appear sensitive to habitat disturbance and water
quality, as they are rare in urbanized areas (Klemens 1993).
Dusky habitat in western Rhode Island
- Duskies have a brownish colored dorsum
which typically darkens with age.
In the darkness of a forested area they may appear black
but in better light
mottling patterns are obvious. (Markowsky
- They have a grayish venter
with a black and white border.
- The tail is laterally flattened, with a narrow dorsal
- A white line extends from the eye to the jaw.
- Rear legs are much stouter than forelimbs.
The northern two-lined is a medium sized salamander, with relatively
slender limbs. They are common throughout the region and in Rhode
Island. They can tolerate disturbed habitats. Two-lined salamanders
are a stream species (they do not breed in vernal pools). They are
found in high-gradient mountain streams, muddy flood river plains,
wooded swamps, seeps, springs, and damp woodlands (Klemens
1993). They oviposit on the underside of flat stones in streams.
In southern New England, their breeding season typically occurs
during May and June (Klemens 1993).
Two-lined salamanders appear to be relatively secure in the region.
· Two-lined salamanders have variable dorsal
colors, ranging from yellowish, to olive green, to bronze,
to light gray.
· A dark line runs down both sides of the dorsum; hence
the name two-lined.
· Their ventrum is
white to yellowish.
· They have a laterally flattened tail which can be bright
Four-toed salamanders range throughout eastern North America, but
populations are patchy throughout southern New England (Klemens
1993). Klemens (1993) reported that Raithel (pers. comm.) found
four-toed salamanders to be common throughout mainland Rhode Island,
as well as, on the some of the larger island in the Narragansett
Bay. Lazell (1976) found the species
on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Naushon Island.
Four-toed salamanders are much less obvious than many other amphibians
in the region, therefore their ecology is less understood. They
are active throughout the year, except cold winter months with
snow on the ground (Klemens 1993). They are often found under
debris near red maple swamps. Four-toed salamanders are often
near areas with sphagnum moss, where they typically deposit their
eggs. We documented four-toed salamanders migrating to a vernal
pond in March in southern Rhode Island (Paton
et al. 2000).
Klemens (1993) believes this species is relatively secure in
the region because they occur often on protected lands in southern
· Four-toed salamanders have 4 toes on the hind feet, all
other salamanders in Rhode Island have 5 toes.
· They have a distinct constriction at the base of the
tail. If grabbed by the tail, the tail will easily disconnect
from the body.
· Their venter is enamel
white with black spotting, and their dorsal
Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus
The northern spring salamander ranges from south-western Maine
and southern Quebec to northern Alabama (Green
and Pauley 1987). They are common in the upland regions of
Vermont and New Hampshire but are rare in southern New England
(Klemens 1993), and likewise, a very rare species in Rhode Island.
This salamander is a habitat specialist that needs cold, clean
water with relatively high levels of oxygen. Therefore, it is
found only in areas with high-gradient streams, brooks, or seeps
in relatively undisturbed habitats (Klemens 1993). They have only
been reported from a few localities in Rhode Island (C. Raithel
The northern spring salamander is on of the largest of the lungless
salamanders (Green and Pauley 1987). It is the only large (total
length = 12-19 cm) salamander found in Rhode Island with an orange
to purplish-brown dorsum and white venter (Klemens
Spring salamanders are listed as a Species of Special Concern
in Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut (Markowsky
The blue-spotted salamander is a moderately-sized mole salamander
with a blackish body and blue spots on the flanks, legs, and vent.
There are no documented records of this species in the state (C.
Raithel, pers. comm.). DeGraaf
and Yamasaki (2001) incorrectly show their range extending
into Rhode Island. This species has been recorded in Connecticut
and Massachusetts not far from the Rhode Island border (Klemens
1993). So, there may be some isolated populations in the state.
This species tends to occur in wooded swamps, and will tolerate
disturbed habitats (Klemens 1993). Adults are typically predominantly
active early in the year (March-April), although they may be detected
during the rest of the year under the cover of woody debris (Klemens
1993). See Klemens (1993) for an excellent account of this species
and the similar Jefferson Salamander (A. jeffersonianum;
also not verified in Rhode Island), with which A. laterale