Earlier this year, a bill was introduced to the North Carolina Legislature proposing that we adopt the American Bullfrog as our state amphibian. While we are excited that the state is considering adopting a state amphibian, the North Carolina Herpetological Society would like to recommend some alternative species for you to consider.
See our reasons why we do not think the American Bullfrog should be our state amphibian here.
See our letter to the state amphibian bill's sponsor, Representative Spear, here.
Teachers: Interested in having your class learn more about amphibians and get them involved in the legislative process? Contact our webmaster here!
North Carolina has the highest salamander diversity in the world and, rivaled only by Georgia, leads the nation in amphibian diversity. We have an opportunity to pick an amphibian species that reflects our state's unparalleled amphibian diversity.
**Please read the following amphibian species suggestions and then cast your vote in our polls below.**
Four frog species:
Carolina Gopher Frog (Rana c. capito) - a Threatened species found in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain of NC; the deep, snoring call of this frog was once common on warm, rainy nights. (photos and more info here)
Brimley's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brimleyi) - found in the Coastal Plain of NC; named in honor of North Carolinian C.S. Brimley, a pioneer in our state's natural history and co-founder of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. (photos and more info here)
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) - found throughout NC; a robust, commonly seen and heard treefrog. (photos and more info here)
Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) - arguably one of the most beautiful frogs in NC; it is found in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain of NC, but is considered significantly rare in NC. (photos and more info here)
Four salamander species:
Neuse River Waterdog (Necturus lewisi) - found only in the Neuse and Tar River basins and nowhere else in the world, the Neuse River Waterdog was first described by North Carolinian C.S. Brimley, a pioneer in our state's natural history and co-founder of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. (photos and more info here)
Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) - a member of the giant salamander family, this completely aquatic salamander is commonly seen by anglers in the Mountain region; NC has one of the world's healthiest remaining populations; nicknamed the "snot otter" or "devil dog". (photos and more info here)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) - a charismatic, chunky-bodied salamander with unique "marbled" patterns on its back; widely distributed in NC. (photos and more info here)
Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee) - a large, striking salamander with a brick-red back whose range is almost entirely in NC; first discovered near Grandfather Mountain and named for a road in Linville, NC. (photos and more info here)
**Please vote for one frog and one salamander species below**
Here are a few reasons why we believe the American Bullfrog should NOT be our state amphibian:
-American Bullfrogs are not unique to North Carolina and are found throughout much of the US. (related link: USDA)
-At least three other states have the American Bullfrog as their state amphibian (Missouri, Iowa, & Oklahoma).
- American Bullfrogs are an aggressive invasive species in other areas of the country and world, putting native amphibian species at risk. (related links: USGS article 1; article 2; National Geographic article)
-American Bullfrogs do not represent the overall decline in amphibian species worldwide. (related link: AmphibiaWeb)
-American Bullfrogs can carry and spread the chytrid fungus, one of the known causes of amphibian declines. (related links: BBC; CDC)