*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names:
Subspecies: No subspecies recognized.
Adult Description: A medium-sized robust frog (maximum 4.1”) of brown to gray coloration, with many dark circular spots on backs and sides. Smaller markings exist between spots. A usually prominent raised area of skin runs on each side of back. Skin with numerous dark warts on backs and sides. Hindlimbs with dark crossbars and a yellowish wash underneath. Belly is cream colored and often peppered with dark markings.
Similar Species:
Species Range: From Mobile Bay, Alabama, west through southern Mississippi to eastern Florida Parishes of Louisiana.
Louisiana Range: North of Lake Pontchartrain from southeastern Tangipahoa Parish eastward through St. Tammany Parish to Pearl River.
Adult Habitat: Open canopy pine flatwoods and mixed pine-hardwood forests.
Natural History: Dusky Gopher Frogs are most often active between dusk and dawn. They live in underground burrows and stay very close to the burrow to feed in the nonbreeding season. Their diet is poorly known but beetles are noted prey. They likely consume a wide variety of invertebrate prey items, and perhaps even an opportunistic small vertebrate. Snakes, birds, and small mammals are likely predators. Breeding commences when temporary ponds with submerged and emergent vegetation fill sufficiently after heavy rains in mild temperatures (>50° F). This typically occurs in winter to early spring, but earlier breeding has been recorded after tropical storms and hurricanes. Females lay 500–7,000 eggs in a single mass at or near the water surface and often attached to vegetation. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and tadpoles metamorphose in about 3–6 months. Maturity takes only 6–8 months for males, but 2–3 years for females. Wild longevity is likely no more than 7 years.
Call: A deep, vibrating ‘grrrraaawwwww’ likened to a snore lasting 2–3 seconds.
Best Time and Place to Observe: Unfortunately, this species was last seen in Louisiana in 1967 near Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish. In Mississippi where they still occur, they are most often found when migrating to and calling from their breeding habitats.
Global Conservation Status: Dusky Gopher Frogs have a restricted historical range in the southeastern United States, and an extant range of only one area in southern Mississippi, with less than 250 adults in total, and thus, are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G1 (Critically Imperiled).
Federal Conservation Status: The Dusky Gopher Frog is a federally endangered species.
Louisiana Conservation Status: Dusky Gopher Frogs are considered extirpated from Louisiana and currently have a state ranking of SH (historical occurrence with no recent records verified within the last 20 years). The Dusky Gopher Frog range in the eastern Florida Parishes represented the westernmost extent of the species range. Habitat destruction resulting from urban development and resulting fire suppression has been implicated in the extirpation of this species from Louisiana.
***If you live in the historical range of this species in Louisiana and believe you may have observed or heard this species please let me know (take a picture or audio recording if possible), as it would be an important discovery.***
Author's Remarks: In 2025, I was able to visit with some colleagues in MIssissippi and observe a male calling, egg masses, and tadpoles. We also released some head-started juvenile. This species is believed for some time now to be extirpated in Louisiana.
