This list includes 24 Amphibians that start with C, from “California newt” to “Cuban treefrog”. It spans frogs, toads, salamanders and newts found across global habitats, giving quick facts useful for field ID and classroom reference.
Amphibians that start with C are species whose common names begin with the letter C, including frogs, toads, salamanders and newts. A notable example is the California newt, familiar to early naturalists and coastal folklore.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat and Lifespan.
Common name: The everyday name helps you quickly identify species and match field guides or local sightings.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial shows accepted taxonomy so you can cross-reference species across databases and research.
Habitat: A concise habitat note tells you where each species lives and helps you narrow searches by region and ecosystem.
Lifespan: Typical wild or captive age ranges give context on longevity and help you compare life histories across species.
Amphibians that start with C
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat/Region | Lifespan (years) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common frog | Rana temporaria | temperate forest ponds, Europe | 5-10 years | Familiar European frog; medium-sized, variable brown/green, breeds in ponds each spring, common in gardens and woodlands. |
| Common toad | Bufo bufo | forests, gardens, Europe & N Africa | 10-20 years | Large, warty toad; nocturnal insectivore, lays strings of eggs, long-lived and widespread across Europe. |
| Common midwife toad | Alytes obstetricans | rocky hillsides, ponds, W/C Europe | 5-12 years | Notable male egg-carrying behavior; small, squat toad with terrestrial habits and melodious call. |
| Common coquí | Eleutherodactylus coqui | Puerto Rico forests, Caribbean | 2-4 years | Tiny, loud night caller; direct-developing frog (no tadpole stage), culturally iconic and invasive in some areas. |
| Common tree frog | Hyla arborea | temperate wetlands & woodlands, Europe | 4-8 years | Bright green arboreal frog with sticky toes; sings from vegetation near ponds in spring and summer. |
| Carpenter frog | Lithobates virgatipes | acidic bogs & ponds, SE USA | 3-6 years | Slender, long-legged frog with subtle stripe; prefers sphagnum bogs and quiet wetlands. |
| Cascades frog | Lithobates cascadae | mountain meadows & streams, NW USA | 3-7 years | Small montane frog with spots and a yellow belly; sensitive to habitat loss and disease. |
| Cope’s gray treefrog | Dryophytes chrysoscelis | forests, ponds, E North America | 2-7 years | Small, variable gray/green frog with rapid trill call; cryptic skin and good climber. |
| Cuban treefrog | Osteopilus septentrionalis | Cuba, Caribbean; invasive Florida | 2-7 years | Large, invasive species in Florida; sticky pads, voracious predator of native frogs. |
| Chinese giant salamander | Andrias davidianus | cold rivers & streams, central China | 50-80 years | World’s largest amphibian; can exceed 1 m, critically endangered from overharvest and habitat loss. |
| Chinese fire-bellied newt | Cynops orientalis | ponds & slow streams, China | 8-15 years (captive) | Small newt with bright orange belly; popular pet, secretes toxins as defense. |
| Canyon treefrog | Dryophytes arenicolor | rocky streamside habitats, SW USA & N Mexico | 4-6 years | Camouflaged gray/brown treefrog that clings to rocks; common in arid canyons. |
| Cricket frog | Acris crepitans | marshes, ponds, E & central North America | 2-3 years | Tiny, lively frog with metallic chirp; excellent jumper found at water edges. |
| Crab-eating frog | Fejervarya cancrivora | mangroves, rice paddies, SE Asia | 3-5 years | Salt-tolerant frog that forages in brackish habitats; opportunistic diet includes crustaceans. |
| Cane toad | Rhinella marina | Central & S America; invasive worldwide | 10-15 years | Very large, toxic to predators and humans; major invasive species in Australia and the Pacific. |
| California newt | Taricha torosa | coastal streams & woodlands, California | 8-20 years | Orange-bellied newt with powerful tetrodotoxin; terrestrial adults return to streams to breed. |
| California slender salamander | Batrachoseps attenuatus | moist coastal forests, California | 5-10 years | Tiny, elongate lungless salamander; secretive, often under logs and leaf litter. |
| California red-legged frog | Rana draytonii | riparian areas, central & S California | 6-10 years | Largest frog in western North America; threatened, historic declines due to habitat loss. |
| Coastal tailed frog | Ascaphus truei | cold, fast mountain streams, Pacific NW | 10-12 years | Primitive frog with male “tail” for internal fertilization; adapted to rushing streams. |
| Colorado River toad | Incilius alvarius | deserts & riparian zones, SW USA & N Mexico | 10-15 years | Large desert toad producing potent bufotoxins; culturally significant and medically notable. |
| Common reed frog | Hyperolius viridiflavus | reeds & wetlands, sub-Saharan Africa | 3-5 years | Small, often brightly patterned arboreal frog found in vegetation near water. |
| Common mistfrog | Litoria rheocola | rainforest streams, NE Australia | 4-8 years | Small stream frog once common; populations hit hard by chytrid fungus. |
| Chinese fire-bellied toad | Bombina orientalis | ponds & wetlands, NE China & Korea | 5-10 years | Small toad with vivid orange belly used as warning coloration; popular in the pet trade. |
| Common river frog | Amietia angolensis | rivers & streams, sub-Saharan Africa | 3-6 years | Robust stream-associated frog with wide African distribution and variable coloration. |