Frogs are amphibious animals that live both on land and in water. There are many different species and types of frogs around the world, occupying a variety of habitats from rainforests to deserts. But just how many types of frogs are there? Let’s take a look at the different frog classifications and counts.
Frog Classifications
All frogs belong to the order Anura, which contains over 5,000 species. Anura is divided into three suborders:
- Mesobatrachia (Midwife Toads)
- Neobatrachia (Modern Frogs)
- Archaeobatrachia (Primitive Frogs)
The Neobatrachia suborder accounts for over 96% of all frog species. This group contains two infraorders:
- Ranoides (True Frogs)
- Hyloides (Tree Frogs)
Ranoides contains most frog families like true frogs, poison dart frogs, bullfrogs, and more. Hyloides includes tree frogs and rain frogs.
Within these taxonomic groups, there are over 40 recognized frog families including:
- Bufonidae (True Toads)
- Dendrobatidae (Poison Dart Frogs)
- Hylidae (Tree Frogs)
- Ranidae (True Frogs)
- Microhylidae (Narrow-mouthed Toads)
- Pipidae (Tongueless Frogs)
Each frog family contains many different frog genera and species.
Global Frog Species Count
According to AmphibiaWeb, there are currently 7,155 known amphibian species in the world. Of these, 88% or 6,299 species are frogs.
The top 5 countries with the most frog diversity are:
| Country | Number of Frog Species |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 988 |
| Colombia | 720 |
| Indonesia | 573 |
| Mexico | 365 |
| China | 326 |
As you can see, Brazil has the most frog diversity with almost 1,000 species. Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico, and China round out the top 5.
United States Frog Species
The United States has a high diversity of regional frog species. Here’s a breakdown of frog species counts by region:
| Region | Species Count |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 27 |
| Southeast | 91 |
| Midwest | 57 |
| Southwest | 59 |
| West | 48 |
| Total | 135 |
The Southeast has the most US frog diversity with 91 species, followed by the Southwest, West, Midwest, and Northeast. In total, there are 135 species in the US.
Endangered Frogs
Habitat loss and degradation, climate change, pollution, overcollection, and disease have led to declines in many frog populations globally. According to the IUCN Red List, these are the most endangered frog species:
| Species | Region | IUCN Status |
|---|---|---|
| Corroboree Frog | Australia | Critically Endangered |
| Mountain Chicken Frog | Caribbean Islands | Critically Endangered |
| Wyoming Toad | United States | Endangered |
| Darwin’s Frog | Chile and Argentina | Endangered |
| Golden Toad | Costa Rica | Extinct in the Wild |
Some of these endangered frogs, like the mountain chicken frog and Darwin’s frog, still have wild populations but are under severe threat. Others like the golden toad have already become extinct in the wild.
Newly Discovered Frogs
While some frogs are disappearing, scientists continue to discover new species each year as they explore remote tropical forests where frog diversity is high. Here are 5 of the most exciting new frog species found in the last decade:
- Limestone Leaf-litter Frog – Discovered in Malaysia in 2022.
- Changuinola Rain Frog – Found in Panama in 2017.
- Warty Swamp Frog – Identified in New Guinea in 2016.
- Ochre Leaf Frog – First seen in Brazil in 2015.
- Pinocchio Frog – Described from Ecuador in 2010.
Many newly found frogs have tiny ranges endemic to a single mountaintop or small forest region. Protecting their limited habitats will be key for their continued survival.
Captive Frogs
Beyond species living in the wild, a variety of frogs are commonly kept and bred as pets and laboratory animals. Some popular captive frog species include:
| Species | Type |
|---|---|
| American Bullfrog | Aquatic Frog |
| African Dwarf Frog | Aquatic Frog |
| Green Tree Frog | Tree Frog |
| Tomato Frog | Terrestrial Frog |
| Poison Dart Frogs | Terrestrial Frog |
Bullfrogs and dwarf frogs are popular aquatic pets while tree frogs, tomato frogs, and poison dart frogs are commonly kept terrestrial species.
Conclusion
There are over 6,000 frog species globally occupying a wide range of habitats. Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, and China are the most frog diverse countries. The US has around 135 native species. Many new frogs are still being discovered each year, but at least 200 species are threatened with extinction and require conservation efforts to survive.
