Tadpole specimen library

A searchable photographic reference library of anuran larvae.

A plate of anuran larvae from the reference collection

How to use this library

I spend a lot of time looking at tadpoles, either in the field or in museums. Many tadpoles don’t have published photos, so I hope people find this resource useful. Search taxonomy below and hover over a photograph to see what it is. Click it to open it full size.

These images are free to use for teaching, identification keys, and research papers, with permission. Ask first and I can send you a version without the watermark; credit them to Jackson R. Phillips. See the usage policy for details.

245 photographs

Arthroleptidae 19

Astylosternus occidentalis — Astylosternus occidentalis

Cardioglossa sp — Cardioglossa sp.Long-fingered frog

Cardioglossa — CardioglossaLong-fingered frog · MCZ A139946

Cardioglossa — CardioglossaLong-fingered frog · MCZ A139946

Leptodactylodon — LeptodactylodonA139563

Leptodactylodon — LeptodactylodonA139563

Leptopelis kivuensis — Leptopelis kivuensisCAS 204614

Leptopelis kivuensis — Leptopelis kivuensisCAS 204614

Leptopelis kivuensis — Leptopelis kivuensisCAS 204614

Leptopelis natalensis — Leptopelis natalensis

Leptopelis natalensis — Leptopelis natalensis

Nyctibates corrugatus — Nyctibates corrugatusUTA DPL 5438

Nyctibates corrugatus — Nyctibates corrugatusUTA DPL 5438

Nyctibates corrugatus — Nyctibates corrugatusUTA DPL 5438

Nyctibates corrugatus — Nyctibates corrugatusUTA DPL 5438

Nyctibates corrugatus — Nyctibates corrugatusUTA DPL 5438

Trichobatrachus robustus — Trichobatrachus robustus

Trichobatrachus robustus — Trichobatrachus robustus

Trichobatrachus robustus — Trichobatrachus robustusUTA DPL 2403a

Ascaphidae 3

Ascaphus truei — Ascaphus trueiTailed frog

Ascaphus truei, Oregon — Ascaphus trueiCoastal tailed frog · Oregon

Ascaphus — AscaphusTailed frog

Bufonidae 46

Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus — Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus

Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus — Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus

Ansonia sp, Sarawak Malaysia — Ansonia sp.Sarawak Malaysia

Atelopus zeteki — Atelopus zetekiAMNH 168498

Atelopus zeteki — Atelopus zetekiAMNH 168498

Atelopus zeteki — Atelopus zetekiAMNH 168498

Nannophryne cophotis — Nannophryne cophotisUSNM 301955

Nannophryne cophotis — Nannophryne cophotisUSNM 301955

Nannophryne cophotis — Nannophryne cophotisUSNM 301955

Rhaebo caeruleostictus — Rhaebo caeruleostictus

Rhaebo haematiticus — Rhaebo haematiticus

Rhinella amabilis — Rhinella amabilis

Rhinella amabilis — Rhinella amabilis

Rhinella beebei — Rhinella beebeiUSNM 248006

Rhinella beebei — Rhinella beebeiUSNM 248006

Rhinella chrysophora — Rhinella chrysophora

Rhinella chrysophora — Rhinella chrysophora

Rhinella veraguensis — Rhinella veraguensis

Rhinella veraguensis — Rhinella veraguensis

Schismaderma carens — Schismaderma carensAfrican red toad

Schismaderma carens, Limpopo — Schismaderma carensAfrican red toad · Limpopo

Schismaderma carens, Limpopo — Schismaderma carensAfrican red toad · Limpopo

Schismaderma carens, Limpopo South Africa 2023 — Schismaderma carensAfrican red toad · Limpopo South Africa 2023

Schismaderma carens, Mpumalanga — Schismaderma carensAfrican red toad · Mpumalanga

Sclerophrys capensis — Sclerophrys capensisPEM A14178

Sclerophrys capensis — Sclerophrys capensisPEM A14178

Sclerophrys capensis — Sclerophrys capensisPEM A14178

Sclerophrys garmani — Sclerophrys garmaniPEM T685

Sclerophrys garmani — Sclerophrys garmaniPEM T685

Sclerophrys garmani — Sclerophrys garmaniPEM T685

Sclerophrys lemairii — Sclerophrys lemairiiPEM T555

Sclerophrys lemairii — Sclerophrys lemairiiPEM T555

Sclerophrys lemairii — Sclerophrys lemairiiPEM T555

Sclerophrys sp, KZN South Africa 2023 — Sclerophrys sp.KZN South Africa 2023

Vandijkophrynus amatolicus — Vandijkophrynus amatolicusPEM T493

Vandijkophrynus amatolicus — Vandijkophrynus amatolicusPEM T493

Vandijkophrynus amatolicus — Vandijkophrynus amatolicusPEM T493

Vandijkophrynus angusticeps — Vandijkophrynus angusticepsPEM T483

Vandijkophrynus angusticeps — Vandijkophrynus angusticepsPEM T483

Vandijkophrynus angusticeps — Vandijkophrynus angusticepsPEM T483

Vandijkophrynus gariepensis — Vandijkophrynus gariepensisPEM A13564

Vandijkophrynus gariepensis — Vandijkophrynus gariepensisPEM A13564

Vandijkophrynus gariepensis — Vandijkophrynus gariepensisPEM A13564

Werneria bambutensis — Werneria bambutensis

Werneria bambutensis — Werneria bambutensis

Werneria bambutensis — Werneria bambutensisUTA DPL 2340d

Centrolenidae 3

Cochranella viridescens — Cochranella viridescensUTA A 4711

Cochranella viridescens — Cochranella viridescensUTA A 4711

Cochranella viridescens — Cochranella viridescensUTA A 4711

Ceratophryidae 6

Ceratophrys calcarata — Ceratophrys calcarataKU 193492

Ceratophrys calcarata — Ceratophrys calcarataKU 193492

Ceratophrys calcarata — Ceratophrys calcarataKU 193492

Ceratophrys calcarata — Ceratophrys calcarataKU 193492

Chacophrys pierottii — Chacophrys pierottii

Lepidobatrachus laevis — Lepidobatrachus laevisKU 209362

Conrauidae 4

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog · UTA DPL 2424d

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog · UTA DPL 2424d

Cycloramphidae 3

Thoropa petropolitana — Thoropa petropolitana

Thoropa petropolitana — Thoropa petropolitanaAMNH 104007

Thoropa petropolitana — Thoropa petropolitanaAMNH 104007

Heleophrynidae 7

Hadromophryne natalensis, Woodbush forest Limpopo South Africa 2023 — Hadromophryne natalensisWoodbush forest Limpopo South Africa 2023

Heleophryne purcelli — Heleophryne purcelli

Heleophryne regis — Heleophryne regis

Heleophryne regis — Heleophryne regis

Heleophryne regis — Heleophryne regis

Heleophryne regis — Heleophryne regis

Hadromophryne natalensis — Hadromophryne natalensis

Hemisotidae 2

Hemisus marmoratus — Hemisus marmoratus

Hemisus marmoratus, KZN — Hemisus marmoratusKZN

Hylidae 55

Charadrahyla altipotens — Charadrahyla altipotensKU 139682

Charadrahyla altipotens — Charadrahyla altipotensKU 139682

Charadrahyla altipotens — Charadrahyla altipotensKU 139682

Cyclorana longipes — Cyclorana longipesKU 223474

Cyclorana longipes — Cyclorana longipesKU 223474

Cyclorana longipes — Cyclorana longipesKU 223474

Duellmanohyla chamulae — Duellmanohyla chamulae

Duellmanohyla ignicolor — Duellmanohyla ignicolorKU 139891

Duellmanohyla ignicolor — Duellmanohyla ignicolorKU 139891

Duellmanohyla salvavida — Duellmanohyla salvavida

Duellmanohyla salvavida — Duellmanohyla salvavidaKU 211261

Duellmanohyla salvavida — Duellmanohyla salvavidaKU 211261

Duellmanohyla salvavida — Duellmanohyla salvavidaKU 211261

Duellmanohyla schmidtorum — Duellmanohyla schmidtorum

Duellmanohyla soralia — Duellmanohyla soralia

Duellmanohyla uranochroa — Duellmanohyla uranochroa

Ecnomiohyla salvaje — Ecnomiohyla salvajeKU 195551

Ecnomiohyla salvaje — Ecnomiohyla salvajeKU 195551

Ecnomiohyla salvaje — Ecnomiohyla salvajeKU 195551

Ecnomiohyla salvaje — Ecnomiohyla salvajeKU 195551

Exerodonta sumichrasti — Exerodonta sumichrastiKU 128728

Exerodonta sumichrasti — Exerodonta sumichrastiKU 128728

Exerodonta sumichrasti — Exerodonta sumichrastiKU 128728

Exerodonta sumichrasti — Exerodonta sumichrastiKU 128728

Hyloscirtus armatus — Hyloscirtus armatusUSNM 120960

Hyloscirtus armatus — Hyloscirtus armatusUSNM 120960

Hyloscirtus armatus — Hyloscirtus armatusUSNM 120960

Hyloscirtus armatus — Hyloscirtus armatusUSNM 120960

Hyloscirtus colymba — Hyloscirtus colymbaKU 116779

Isthmohyla angustilineata — Isthmohyla angustilineataKU 104121

Isthmohyla pseudopuma — Isthmohyla pseudopumaKU 104299

Isthmohyla pseudopuma — Isthmohyla pseudopumaKU 104299

Isthmohyla pseudopuma — Isthmohyla pseudopumaKU 104299

Isthmohyla tica — Isthmohyla tica

Isthmohyla tica — Isthmohyla ticaKU 104127

Litoria booroolongensis — Litoria booroolongensisKU 180048

Litoria booroolongensis — Litoria booroolongensisKU 180048

Litoria iris — Litoria irisAMNH 80834

Megastomatohyla mixe — Megastomatohyla mixe

Megastomatohyla mixe — Megastomatohyla mixe

Myersiohyla chamaeleo — Myersiohyla chamaeleoUSNM 562722

Myersiohyla chamaeleo — Myersiohyla chamaeleoUSNM 562722

Nyctimystes cheesmani — Nyctimystes cheesmani

Plectrohyla exquisita — Plectrohyla exquisitaUSNM 513494

Plectrohyla exquisita — Plectrohyla exquisitaUSNM 513494

Pseudis paradoxa — Pseudis paradoxaKU 128129

Ptychohyla hypomycter — Ptychohyla hypomycterUTA 48077

Ptychohyla hypomycter — Ptychohyla hypomycterUTA 48077

Ptychohyla hypomycter — Ptychohyla hypomycterUTA 48077

Rheohyla miotympanum — Rheohyla miotympanumKU 60071

Rheohyla miotympanum — Rheohyla miotympanumKU 60071

Rheohyla miotympanum — Rheohyla miotympanumKU 60071

Tepuihyla edelcae — Tepuihyla edelcaeUSNM 550380

Tepuihyla edelcae — Tepuihyla edelcaeUSNM 550380

Tepuihyla edelcae — Tepuihyla edelcaeUSNM 550380

Hyperoliidae 1

Kassina senegalensis — Kassina senegalensis

Leptodactylidae 7

Leptodactylus lithonaetus — Leptodactylus lithonaetusUTA A 23509

Leptodactylus lithonaetus — Leptodactylus lithonaetusUTA A 23509

Leptodactylus lithonaetus — Leptodactylus lithonaetusUTA A 23509

Leptodactylus lithonaetus — Leptodactylus lithonaetusUTA A 23509

Leptodactylus melanotus — Leptodactylus melanotusKU 139663

Leptodactylus melanotus — Leptodactylus melanotusKU 139663

Leptodactylus melanotus — Leptodactylus melanotusKU 139663

Limnodynastidae 2

Mixophyes balbus — Mixophyes balbusAMNH 92751

Mixophyes balbus — Mixophyes balbusAMNH 92751

Megophryidae 21

Leptobrachella pelodytoides — Leptobrachella pelodytoides

Leptobrachella pelodytoides — Leptobrachella pelodytoidesAMNH 29413

Oreolalax rhodostigmatus — Oreolalax rhodostigmatusKU 311760

Oreolalax rhodostigmatus — Oreolalax rhodostigmatusKU 311760

Oreolalax rhodostigmatus — Oreolalax rhodostigmatusKU 311760

Pelobatrachus sp — Pelobatrachus sp.

Pelobatrachus ligayae — Pelobatrachus ligayaeKU 319379

Pelobatrachus ligayae — Pelobatrachus ligayaeKU 319379

Pelobatrachus ligayae — Pelobatrachus ligayaeKU 319379

Pelobatrachus nasutus, Sabah Malaysia 2024 — Pelobatrachus nasutusLong-nosed horned frog · Sabah Malaysia 2024

Pelobatrachus nasutus, Sabah Malaysia 2024 — Pelobatrachus nasutusLong-nosed horned frog · Sabah Malaysia 2024

Pelobatrachus stejnegeri — Pelobatrachus stejnegeriKU 334792

Pelobatrachus sp — Pelobatrachus sp.

Scutiger boulengeri boulengeri — Scutiger boulengeri boulengeriCAS 177307

Scutiger boulengeri boulengeri — Scutiger boulengeri boulengeriCAS 177307

Scutiger boulengeri boulengeri — Scutiger boulengeri boulengeriCAS 177307

Scutiger boulengeri boulengeri — Scutiger boulengeri boulengeriCAS 177307

Scutiger chintingensis — Scutiger chintingensisFMNH 272202

Scutiger chintingensis — Scutiger chintingensisFMNH 272202

Scutiger chintingensis — Scutiger chintingensisFMNH 272202

Scutiger chintingensis — Scutiger chintingensisFMNH 272202

Microhylidae 9

Borneo Highlands Sarawak Malaysia

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Microhyla heymonsi — Microhyla heymonsiUTA PAN 715

Microhyla heymonsi — Microhyla heymonsiUTA PAN 715

Otophryne robusta — Otophryne robusta

Otophryne robusta — Otophryne robusta

Otophryne sp — Otophryne sp.

Myobatrachidae 7

Crinia signifera — Crinia signifera

Crinia riparia — Crinia ripariaFMNH 225516

Crinia riparia — Crinia ripariaFMNH 225516

Crinia riparia — Crinia ripariaFMNH 225516

Pseudophryne australis — Pseudophryne australisAMNH 92756

Pseudophryne australis — Pseudophryne australisAMNH 92756

Pseudophryne australis — Pseudophryne australisAMNH 92756

Odontobatrachidae 1

Odontobatrachus natator — Odontobatrachus natator

Odontophrynidae 3

Odontophrynus americanus — Odontophrynus americanusKU 112390

Odontophrynus americanus — Odontophrynus americanusKU 112390

Odontophrynus americanus — Odontophrynus americanusKU 112390

Petropedetidae 2

Arthroleptides martiensseni — Arthroleptides martiensseniUSNM 316556

Arthroleptides martiensseni — Arthroleptides martiensseniUSNM 316556

Phrynobatrachidae 3

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Pipidae 4

Pipa myersi — Pipa myersiKU 116685

Pipa myersi — Pipa myersiKU 116685

Xenopus laevis — Xenopus laevisAfrican clawed frog

Xenopus tropicalis — Xenopus tropicalisKU 222402

Pyxicephalidae 10

Amietia fuscigula, Eastern Cape South Africa 2023 — Amietia fuscigulaCape river frog · Eastern Cape South Africa 2023

Amietia fuscigula — Amietia fuscigulaCape river frog

Amietia fuscigula — Amietia fuscigulaCape river frog

Amietia fuscigula — Amietia fuscigulaCape river frog

Natalobatrachus bonebergi — Natalobatrachus bonebergiPEM T597

Natalobatrachus bonebergi — Natalobatrachus bonebergiPEM T597

Natalobatrachus bonebergi — Natalobatrachus bonebergiPEM T597

Nothophryne inagoensis — Nothophryne inagoensisPEM A14692

Nothophryne inagoensis — Nothophryne inagoensisPEM A14692

Nothophryne inagoensis — Nothophryne inagoensisPEM A14692

Ranidae 10

Clinotarsus alticola — Clinotarsus alticolaUSNM 595191

Clinotarsus alticola — Clinotarsus alticolaUSNM 595191

Clinotarsus alticola — Clinotarsus alticolaUSNM 595191

Clinotarsus alticola — Clinotarsus alticolaUSNM 595191

Clinotarsus penelope — Clinotarsus penelopeNCSM 78307

Huia cavitympanum — Huia cavitympanum

Huia cavitympanum — Huia cavitympanumUSNM 306195

Huia cavitympanum — Huia cavitympanumUSNM 306195

Meristogenys sp, Sarawak Malaysia — Meristogenys sp.Sarawak Malaysia

Meristogenys — Meristogenys

Ranixalidae 2

Indirana beddomii — Indirana beddomiiUSNM 232370

Indirana beddomii — Indirana beddomiiUSNM 232370

Rhacophoridae 2

Nyctixalus pictus, Tawau Sabah Malaysia — Nyctixalus pictusCinnamon frog · Tawau Sabah Malaysia

Polypedates sp, Sarawak Malaysia — Polypedates sp.Asian treefrog · Sarawak Malaysia

Sooglossidae 2

Sooglossus seychellensis — Sooglossus seychellensis

Sooglossus seychellensis — Sooglossus seychellensisAMNH 23576

Telmatobiidae 11

Telmatobius arequipensis — Telmatobius arequipensisKU 164018

Telmatobius arequipensis — Telmatobius arequipensisKU 164018

Telmatobius arequipensis — Telmatobius arequipensisKU 164018

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpai

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpai

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpaiKU 181882

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpaiKU 181882

Telmatobius culeus — Telmatobius culeusKU 138743

Telmatobius culeus — Telmatobius culeusKU 138743

Telmatobius culeus — Telmatobius culeusKU 138743

Telmatobius macrostomus — Telmatobius macrostomusKU 158317