Dusky gopher frog

At the Detroit Zoo
The dusky gopher frog resides in special bio-secure rooms behind the scenes of the National Amphibian Conservation Center – a leader in amphibian conservation and research. Due to the Detroit Zoological Society’s efforts to restore this endangered species through a cooperative breeding program, it is not viewable to the public. Over the past few years, the DZS has released juvenile gopher frogs into the wild after identifying suitable locations where the population would be adequately protected.

Description
Dusky gopher frogs are medium-sized with bump-covered bodies that are black, brown or gray with dark spots and ridges along their backs. Typically found in southern Mississippi, these frogs prefer to be in stump holes or burrows. This species has an estimated population of less than 135 in the wild, making them one of the top 100 most endangered species in the world, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.