Identifying Frogs

You hear frogs at night, find them in your garden, see them jump as you walk by ponds. Along with lizards, spiders, birds, and bats, frogs are a major factor in the control of insects, and are also a food source for many animals. You might see the following frogs here in Bangkok:

The fat warty toads

Common Indian Toad – “warts” on body, large glands behind each eye, ridges on head

The pointy-headed frogs with ridges

Asian Grass Frog – average size, often has stripe down its back, not in salty water

Brackish Frog – deeper and pointier head than Asian Grass Frog, usually near the coast (photo by Thai National Parks)

Chinese Edible Frog – large heavy body and legs, no stripe, not in salty water

The pointy-headed frogs with smooth skin

Three-striped Grass Frog – slender legs, three stripes with narrowest one in middle

Green Paddy Frog – medium legs, stripes on sides are broader, no stripe on back

The stout little frogs floating in puddles

Round-tongued Floating Frog – round squat body with eyes set to the side of head

Green Puddle Frog – round squat body with eyes that are slightly upturned

The flat, squat frogs on the ground

Mukhlesur’s Narrowmouth Frog – narrow head, triangular body, ornate mark on back

Darkside Narrowmouth Frog – narrow head, triangular body, dark sides

Inornate Froglet – flattened squarish body, broader head, streaked dark markings

Asian Painted Frog – blunt head, fat round body, broad cream bands on both sides

The long-legged acrobatics in the trees and bushes

Brown Treefrog – broad head, long toes with pads on the end