How to Identify Frog Eggs

Frogs are part of the classification known as amphibians. They live on both land and in water and are indigenous to every area of the planet except Antarctica. You can typically find frog eggs between the months of March and June. They vary in color, size and shape depending upon the frog species that laid them. Observing and identifying frog eggs can be a fun, educational activity for children and an interesting way to get in touch with nature.

Things You'll Need

  • Pond, lake, brook or stream access
  • Amphibian atlas
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Instructions

    • 1

      Search for thick, gelatinous mounds (egg sacs) near the surface of the water bed or attached to vegetation along the water's edge. The sacs are shaped like pancakes, they are clumped in loose clusters and the frog eggs are encased in the gelatinous substance. The eggs will range in size from .5 mm to 3 mm in diameter.

    • 2

      Observe the amount of eggs in each egg sac. If the sac contains more eggs than you can count, it is most likely a frog egg sac. An egg sac may contain between 500 to 20,000 eggs depending upon the type of frog that laid them.

    • 3

      Examine the center of the eggs and the surrounding gelatinous matter. Frog eggs are very dark or black in the center and the gel-like substance encasing them is either clear or white.

    • 4

      Identify the species of frog eggs you have found by looking inside of your amphibian atlas.