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. Please ask first so I can send you a version without the watermark, and credit them to Jackson R. Phillips.

73 photographs

Arthroleptidae 9

Cardioglossa sp — Cardioglossa sp.Long-fingered frog

Cardioglossa — CardioglossaLong-fingered frog · MCZ A139946

Cardioglossa — CardioglossaLong-fingered frog · MCZ A139946

Leptodactylodon — LeptodactylodonA139563

Leptodactylodon — LeptodactylodonA139563

Leptopelis natalensis — Leptopelis natalensis

Leptopelis natalensis — Leptopelis natalensis

Trichobatrachus robustus — Trichobatrachus robustus

Trichobatrachus robustus — Trichobatrachus robustus

Ascaphidae 3

Ascaphus truei — Ascaphus trueiTailed frog

Ascaphus truei, Oregon — Ascaphus trueiCoastal tailed frog · Oregon

Ascaphus — AscaphusTailed frog

Bufonidae 16

Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus — Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus

Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus — Adhaerobufo cf. nasicus

Rhaebo caeruleostictus — Rhaebo caeruleostictus

Rhaebo haematiticus — Rhaebo haematiticus

Rhinella amabilis — Rhinella amabilis

Rhinella chrysophora — Rhinella chrysophora

Rhinella chrysophora — Rhinella chrysophora

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

Werneria bambutensis — Werneria bambutensis

Werneria bambutensis — Werneria bambutensis

Ceratophryidae 1

Chacophrys pierottii — Chacophrys pierottii

Conrauidae 2

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog

Conraua robusta — Conraua robustaCameroon slippery frog

Cycloramphidae 1

Thoropa petropolitana — Thoropa petropolitana

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 4

Isthmohyla tica — Isthmohyla tica

Megastomatohyla mixe — Megastomatohyla mixe

Megastomatohyla mixe — Megastomatohyla mixe

Nyctimystes cheesmani — Nyctimystes cheesmani

Hyperoliidae 1

Kassina senegalensis — Kassina senegalensis

Megophryidae 5

Leptobrachella pelodytoides — Leptobrachella pelodytoides

Pelobatrachus sp — Pelobatrachus sp.

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 sp — Pelobatrachus sp.

Microhylidae 6

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Gastrophryne carolinensis — Gastrophryne carolinensisEastern narrow-mouthed toad

Otophryne robusta — Otophryne robusta

Otophryne robusta — Otophryne robusta

Otophryne sp — Otophryne sp.

Myobatrachidae 1

Crinia signifera — Crinia signifera

Odontobatrachidae 1

Odontobatrachus natator — Odontobatrachus natator

Phrynobatrachidae 3

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Phrynobatrachus natalensis — Phrynobatrachus natalensisA139879

Pipidae 1

Xenopus laevis — Xenopus laevisAfrican clawed frog

Pyxicephalidae 4

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

Ranidae 2

Huia cavitympanum — Huia cavitympanum

Meristogenys — Meristogenys

Rhacophoridae 1

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

Sooglossidae 1

Sooglossus seychellensis — Sooglossus seychellensis

Telmatobiidae 2

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpai

Telmatobius atahualpai — Telmatobius atahualpai