{"id":1256,"date":"2019-02-18T14:35:41","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T14:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.frogpets.com\/?p=1256"},"modified":"2022-04-04T20:31:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T20:31:53","slug":"are-leopard-frogs-poisonous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frogpets.com\/are-leopard-frogs-poisonous\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Leopard Frogs Poisonous?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leopard frogs are small, cute frogs, that are a great pet for beginners. They\u2019re not poisonous like a poison-dart frog. Poison dart frogs are considered one of the most toxic frogs on the planet; with some species having poison deadly enough to kill an adult human. In contrast, leopard frogs are certainly not deadly (not to humans).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard frogs, like most frogs, produce a mild toxin as a defense mechanism against predators, but it has little to no noticeable effect on humans. The only real threat leopard frogs have is that they (and other amphibians and reptiles) can carry the salmonella bacteria, which can be harmful to humans.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a safety precaution, always wash your hands after handling amphibians. Before washing your hands, be sure not to rub your eyes or mouth. Other than that, leopard frogs are basically harmless to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Leopard Frogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several different leopard frog species, most of which are identified by their \u201cleopard-like\u201d spots on their backs and bodies. Most leopard frogs are greenish in color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The northern leopard frog is bright green with dark spots, while the southern leopard frog is a muddier green color with dark spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leopard spots are the frog\u2019s first line of defense against predators because they help camouflage them in the wild. Also, these frogs are relatively timid. They\u2019ll hide when threatened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In water, you might see them hanging out just under the surface. They\u2019re ambush predators, meaning they lie quietly in wait for their prey to stroll by. They\u2019ll eat any insect that is smaller than they are, and they\u2019ve been known to eat smaller leopard frogs as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A Northern Leopard Frog. Photo credit: BuBZ \/ Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Leopard frogs are small, skinny frogs, with a powerful leap. In the wild, they can jump as high as three feet and slightly less in captivity (due to the restriction in room, of course). They tend to be about the size of a teacup (3 – 5\u201d in length). The most abundant species of leopard frog in the United States is the Northern Leopard Frog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, in 2012, a new species of leopard frog was discovered just outside Yankee Stadium in New York because of its distinctive croaking noise (which is totally different from any other leopard frog species). This new species has yet been named, but is referred to as \u201cRana <\/em>sp. nov,\u201d which means \u201cnew frog species.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard frogs are semi-aquatic, and they can be found throughout most of North America and Mexico, and some leopard frog species can also be found in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they can live in a variety of terrains and climates, they need to be near some permanent water source, like ponds, marshes, streams, lakes, and even irrigation systems. If there is water nearby, they can be found more inland in tall grasslands, which has earned them the nickname \u201cmeadow frogs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Frogs Produce a Mild Toxin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most frogs produce a mild toxin as a secondary defense mechanism against predators. The glands that secrete these toxins are all over the body, mostly on the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They secrete this foul-tasting toxin (and sometimes mucus) when threatened, which makes them taste bad to predators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also makes the frog a little bit slippery and slimy, making it hard for a predator to hold the frog in its mouth. Often, a predator who has come in contact with a frog remembers the experience and avoids them in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard Frogs Usually Aren\u2019t Dangerous to Humans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These frogs typically aren\u2019t dangerous to humans. While they do release a mild toxin when threatened, it just isn\u2019t potent enough for phase humans. Granted, certain species produce toxins enough to cause mild discomfort or vomiting but only if you happen to ingest it by accident. This can happen by handling a frog (or toad) with excreted toxins, then rubbing your eyes or mouth without first washing your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frogs that tend to be poisonous to humans<\/a> (like the poison-dart frog<\/a>) usually have brightly colored (red, orange, yellow, blue) bodies, advertising their danger. If you see a brightly colored frog, those colors mean \u201cstay away, I\u2019m toxic!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A select few have their bright colors on their bellies, but in general, if you see an exotically colored frog, it\u2019s a good idea to stay away; especially if you\u2019re in a tropical region of the world like South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amphibians Can Carry Salmonella<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Almost all amphibians and reptiles carry the salmonella bacteria in their intestines and excrete it in their waste.<\/strong> A frog with salmonella usually won\u2019t look sick in any way. It\u2019s relatively easy for humans to contract salmonella from them, too. Humans can be exposed through either direct or indirect contact with the frog, its droppings, or anything the frog touches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Salmonella\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Contact with the salmonella bacteria causes salmonellosis in humans, which is characterized by diarrhea. Since many people have amphibians as pets, it\u2019s important to practice good hygiene after handling your frog or touching anything in their enclosure or tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also not a good idea to let children younger than five hold any wild amphibians. Young children tend to use their mouths to inspect things and doing this with frogs can make kids severely ill. I don\u2019t want to scare away any future herpetologists or anything, just be sure to wash your hands!<\/g><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leopard frogs are an abundant and popular species in the United States. They make excellent pets because of their size, temperament, and lack of toxicity. The only danger they pose is as a result of being carriers of the salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans if proper hygiene isn\u2019t followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be mindful of the animal, too! Being handled by a human can be traumatizing for a small frog; it\u2019s stressful for them. If you can\u2019t help yourself, please check out this post about handling amphibians<\/a> and be sure to wash your hands before and after!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leopard frogs are small, cute frogs, that are a great pet for beginners. They\u2019re not poisonous like a poison-dart frog. Poison dart frogs are considered…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAre Leopard Frogs Poisonous? - FrogPets<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.frogpets.com\/are-leopard-frogs-poisonous\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are Leopard Frogs Poisonous? - FrogPets\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Leopard frogs are small, cute frogs, that are a great pet for beginners. 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