“Jug-o’-rum!” Nothing says summer like the deep call of a male American bullfrog, our official Oklahoma State Amphibian. Bullfrogs aren’t just ours, though—they also hold the title in Missouri and Ohio. There are many different Oklahoma frogs. Frogs call to attract mates and to establish their territory during the breeding season, and the bullfrog’s booming bass is hard to miss on a warm night near a pond.
Bullfrogs are the largest frogs in the U.S. and are found statewide in Oklahoma. Typically green or brown, they are known for their golden eyes and insatiable appetites. If it fits in their mouth, they’ll try to eat it: insects, crayfish, small water snakes, other frogs, even birds. But bullfrogs don’t always come out on top—large water snakes are one of their main predators. In the natural world, turnabout’s fair play.
Bullfrogs are also the usual source of restaurant “frog legs.” Their distinguishing features include the lack of skin folds running down their backs (unlike other frogs in the genus Rana). Instead, they have a fold of skin that runs from behind the eye around the outer edge of the tympanum—the round eardrum clearly visible just behind the eye. A bullfrog’s tympanum is especially helpful for identification: in males, it’s noticeably larger than the eye, while in females it is the same size or smaller. This difference reflects the male’s need to detect and respond to calls from rivals and potential mates.
Gray Treefrogs
The gray treefrog is the only treefrog found in the Skiatook and Tulsa County area. Two others—the bird-voiced treefrog and the green treefrog—live only in far southeastern Oklahoma.
Despite their name, gray treefrogs don’t always look gray. They’re usually gray with darker markings, but they can also be brown, green, or even white. Their most striking feature is the bright orange coloring on the undersides of their hind legs, which is especially vivid in younger frogs. They also have a distinctive white patch beneath each eye.
As with all treefrogs, gray treefrogs have enlarged toe pads designed for climbing. These pads let them cling to leaves, bark, and even smooth surfaces. Unlike pond frogs such as leopard frogs, their skin is rough rather than smooth.
Treefrogs are nocturnal, spending most of the year hidden in bushes and trees. The only time they return to water is during breeding season, from April to July, when females lay eggs in temporary pools. Males call to females with a resonating trill—a sound quite different from the bullfrog’s booming jug-o’-rum. A gray treefrog with a completely green back and no dark markings is called a Cope’s gray treefrog.
Cricket Frogs
The cricket frog is one of Oklahoma’s smallest frogs, measuring just 1 to 1½ inches long. Their color ranges from tan to brown to reddish, often with a dark backward-pointing triangle between the eyes. Though they belong to the treefrog family, cricket frogs are almost always found in or near water and rarely stray far from it. Their skin tends to be bumpy, adding to their camouflaged appearance.
Cricket frogs get their name from their call, which sounds like the chirp of a cricket. They begin calling in early spring, long before the first insects are heard in the fields. They are excellent swimmers and breed in shallow water from late spring into summer. Their diet consists of flies, ants, beetles, and spiders—tiny prey for a tiny frog.
Why Frogs Matter
From the booming bass of the bullfrog to the musical trill of the treefrog and the cricket-like chirp of the cricket frog, Oklahoma frogs form a chorus that defines our summer nights. They play a vital role in the ecosystem as both predator and prey, helping to balance insect populations while feeding snakes, birds, and other wildlife.
Next time you hear a “jug-o’-rum” or a cricket-like chirp on a humid evening, pause to listen—you’re hearing one of the oldest, most reliable sounds of an Oklahoma summer.
What is the Oklahoma State Amphibian?
The American bullfrog is the official state amphibian of Oklahoma. It is also the largest frog in the U.S. and can be found statewide.
How do you tell a male bullfrog from a female?
Look at the tympanum, or eardrum, which is located just behind the eye. In males, the tympanum is noticeably larger than the eye. In females, it is the same size or smaller.
What does a bullfrog’s call sound like?
A bullfrog’s call is a deep “jug-o’-rum” sound that carries across ponds and lakes in summer. Males call to attract mates and defend their territories.
What’s the difference between a gray treefrog and a Cope’s gray treefrog?
Both belong to the same species group, but a gray treefrog with a completely green back and no dark markings is called a Cope’s gray treefrog. Their calls also differ slightly in length and tone.
Why are they called cricket frogs?
Cricket frogs get their name from their call, which sounds like the chirping of crickets. They start calling in early spring, long before true crickets appear.
