Weird Amphibians: List Of The Strangest Amphibians, Pictures & Interesting Facts

Examples of weird amphibians include the Chinese giant salamander, the world’s largest amphibian; amphiumas, a group of eel-like salamanders with tiny legs; the African clawed toad, which has bizarre clawed hind feet; the olm, a blind, cave-dwelling salamander; and Wallace’s flying frog, which is able to glide with its webbed feet.

On this page, you’ll meet all of these, and many other weird amphibians, from all around the world.

Have you seen any of these species? What's your favorite? Are there any weird amphibians we've missed out? Let us know in the comments section at the bottom of the page!


Weird Amphibians

You can see more weird species on the following pages:

Weird Animals Pictures & Facts
Weird Birds Pictures & Facts
Weird Fish Pictures & Facts
Weird Insects Pictures & Facts
Weird Mammals Pictures & Facts
Weird Reptiles Pictures & Facts
Weird Sea Creatures Pictures & Facts
Weird Plants Pictures & Facts
Ugly Animals Pictures & Facts

Discover More About Animals

Animals – The Ultimate Guide

Discover More About Amphibians

Amphibians – The Ultimate Guide


Amphiumas

Scientific name: Amphiuma spp.

Three-toed amphiuma
Three-toed amphiuma

Family: Amphiumidae

Continent: North America

IUCN conservation status: See text

Native to the southeastern United States, amphiumas are eel-like salamanders with tiny, vestigial limbs. They are carnivorous, feeding on small aquatic animals. The three species of amphiumas are listed below. As their names suggest, the species are differentiated by the number of toes they have.

  • Three-toed amphiuma – Amphiuma tridactylumLeast Concern
  • Two-toed amphiuma – Amphiuma meansLeast Concern
  • One-toed amphiuma – Amphiuma pholeterNear Threatened

Back To List


Axolotl

Axolotl

Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum

Family: Ambystomatidae

Continent: North America (specifically, Mexico)

IUCN conservation status: Critically Endangered

Found only in Mexico, axolotls are salamanders that exhibit neoteny, retaining their larval features and remaining aquatic throughout their lives (most amphibians undergo metamorphosis and often live on land as adults). Axolotls are carnivorous, feeding on small aquatic animals.

Amazingly, if an axolotl loses a limb, it can grow a replacement – a process known as regeneration. These strange amphibians are even able to grow back parts of their eyes, hearts and brains!

Although critically endangered in the wild, these weird amphibians are popular pets.

Back To List


African Clawed Frog

African Clawed Toad

Scientific name: Xenopus laevis

Family: Pipidae

Continent: Africa

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

African clawed frogs have distinctively clawed hind feet and flattened bodies. They use their claws to tear food apart and to protect themselves against predators. These weird frogs are fully aquatic and feed on a variety of invertebrates and small fish.

Back To List


Common Midwife Toad

Common Midwife Toad

Scientific name: Alytes obstetricans

Family: Alytidae

Continent: Europe

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

Found in Europe, these toads are known for their unusual reproductive behavior, in which the male carries the fertilized eggs wrapped around his hind legs. They feed on insects and other small invertebrates.

Back To List


Gardiner's Seychelles Frog

Gardiner's Seychelles Frog
Photo: Evan Pickett, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific name: Sechellophryne gardineri

Family: Sooglossidae

Continent: Africa (specifically, Seychelles)

IUCN conservation status: Endangered

This tiny frog measures just 1 cm in length and is one of the world's smallest frogs. The species is native to the Seychelles (an island country located in the Indian Ocean). It feeds on small insects and other invertebrates.

Back To List


Giant Salamanders

Chinese Giant Salamander
Photo: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific name: Andrias japonicus (Japanese Giant Salamander); Andrias davidianus (Chinese Giant Salamander)

Family: Cryptobranchidae

Continent: Asia

IUCN conservation status: Critically Endangered (Chinese) and Near Threatened (Japanese)

Giant salamanders are the world's largest living amphibians, with some species reaching lengths of over 1.5 meters / 4.92 ft. They are aquatic and feed on fish, crustaceans, and other small aquatic animals. Two species are traditionally recognized: The Japanese and Chinese giant salamanders. However, it is now thought that there are at least two giant salamander species in China.

Back To List


Hellbender

Eastern Hellbender

Scientific name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Family: Cryptobranchidae

Continent: North America

IUCN conservation status: Vulnerable

Found in the eastern United States, the hellbender is a large, fully aquatic salamander. It has a flattened body and feeds on crayfish, fish, and other aquatic creatures. Reaching lengths of up to 74 cm / 29 in., the hellbender is the largest amphibian found in North America. Although this strange amphibian does have lungs, it obtains most of the oxygen it needs via its heavily wrinkled skin.

Back To List


Malagasy Rainbow Frog

Malagasy Rainbow Frog
Photo: Franco Andreone, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific name: Scaphiophryne gottlebei

Family: Microhylidae

Continent: Africa (specifically, Madagascar)

IUCN conservation status: Endangered

Native to the African island-country of Madagascar, this brightly-colored frog is known for its striking red and yellow patterning. It is primarily terrestrial and feeds on insects and other invertebrates.

Back To List


Mexican Burrowing Toad

Mexican Burrowing Toad
Photo: Greg Schechter, CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Rhinophrynus dorsalis

Family: Rhinophrynidae

Continent: North America (specifically, Mexico) and Central America

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

The Mexican burrowing toad is a fossorial (burrowing) species with a specialized, shovel-like snout for digging. Its body is almost as wide as it is long. This weird amphibian feeds mainly on ants and termites. It is found in Mexico and Central America.

Back To List


Motorbike Frog

Motorbike Frog

Scientific name: Litoria moorei

Family: Hylidae

Continent: Australia

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

Native to Australia, this frog is named for its distinctive call, which sounds like a revving motorcycle. It inhabits a variety of habitats and feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. Despite being a member of the “tree frog” family, Hylidae, the motorbike frog is rarely found far from the ground.

Back To List


Olm

Olm

Scientific name: Proteus anguinus

Family: Proteidae

Continent: Europe

IUCN conservation status: Vulnerable

This European cave-dwelling salamander is completely blind and has a pale, translucent skin. It is adapted to a life in darkness and feeds on small aquatic invertebrates. This weird amphibian is entirely aquatic, never leaving the water. Like the axolotl, it does not undergo metamorphosis.

Back To List


Purple Frog

Purple Frog
Photo: Karthickbala at ta.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific name: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Family: Sooglossidae

Continent: Asia (specifically, India)

IUCN conservation status: Near Threatened

Native to India, this frog has a bizarre, rounded body and a purple-blue coloration. It is a burrowing species and feeds primarily on termites.

Back To List


Surinam Horned Frog

Surinam Horned Frog or Amazonian Horned Frog

Scientific name: Ceratophrys cornuta

Family: Ceratophryidae

Continent: South America

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

The Surinam horned frog, also known as the Amazonian horned frog, is named for the horn-like projections above its eyes. This weird-looking amphibian is an ambush predator, feeding on insects, small mammals, and other amphibians. Its tadpoles are aggressive, attacking each other and tadpoles of other species.

Back To List


Tomato Frog

Tomato Frog

Scientific name: Dyscophus spp.

Family: Microhylidae

Continent: Africa (specifically, Madagascar)

IUCN conservation status: Varies by species

Native to the African island-country Madagascar, tomato frogs are known for their bright red or orange coloration, resembling a tomato. They are terrestrial and feed on insects and other small invertebrates.

Back To List


Wallace's Flying Frog

Wallace's Flying Frog

Scientific name: Rhacophorus nigropalmatus

Family: Rhacophoridae

Continent: Asia (Southeast Asia)

IUCN conservation status: Least Concern

This Southeast Asian frog is named after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It has large, webbed feet that allow it to glide between trees and feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates.

Back To List


Discover More With Active Wild

You can see more weird species on this page: Weird Animals Pictures & Facts

Discover More About Amphibians & Other Animals

Animals – The Ultimate Guide
Amphibians – The Ultimate Guide

1 thought on “Weird Amphibians: List Of The Strangest Amphibians, Pictures & Interesting Facts”

  1. I love all these frogs and salamanders so much. Axolotls are my favorite animal, so I was very happy to see them here 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Comment