Amphibians vision science: every measurement
The vision values of all 15 amphibians on this site, one row each, with the evidence level of every value and the studies behind it. Species with enough measured values also have their own science page.
Who sees best among amphibians?
Fastest eyes
- 1You60 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 2Tiger salamander30 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 3Green frog21 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 4Bufo toad12.8 Hz flicker fusion Measured
Measured values by dial
| Dial | Species with a measured value |
|---|---|
| Colour | 13 |
| Sharpness | 1 |
| Field of view | 0 |
| Sharp zones (foveas) | 0 |
| Night vision | 15 |
| Motion (flicker fusion) | 3 |
All amphibians, value by value
Evidence levels: how the tiers work. Studies: sources.
| Species | Colour | Sharpness | Field of view | Sharp zones (foveas) | Night vision | Motion (flicker fusion) | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African clawed frog Xenopus laevis | 4 receptor classes: 427.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 502 nm (MWS (green)), 575 nm (LWS (long)), 611 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) mixed Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, luxR_0.1.1_species_sensitivities, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins |
| American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus | 3 receptor classes: 432.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 502 nm (MWS (green)), 575 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) mixed Derived | 21 Hz Estimated | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins |
| Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans | 1 receptor class: 562 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 12.8 Hz Estimated | yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1 |
| Bufo toad Rhinella marina | 1 receptor class: 562 nm (LWS (long)) Estimated | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 12.8 Hz Measured | yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, schott2024_frog_opsins |
| Common frog Rana temporaria | 2 receptor classes: 431 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) mixed Derived | 21 Hz Estimated | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, nhm_anuran_eye_allometry |
| Common toad Bufo bufo | 1 receptor class: 562 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 12.8 Hz Estimated | yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, nhm_anuran_eye_allometry |
| Crab-eating frog Fejervarya cancrivora | 2 receptor classes: 433 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 502 nm (MWS (green)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | murphy_westerman2022_tableS1, caves2024, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, inger2014_tbl3, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Green and black poison frog Dendrobates auratus | 3 receptor classes: 440 nm (SWS (blue)), 499.5 nm (MWS (green)), 564.7 nm (LWS (long)) Measured | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | diurnal Measured (not re-verified) cone-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | schott2024_frog_opsins, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, wan2023_neotropical_frog_opsins |
| Green frog Lithobates clamitans | 3 receptor classes: 432.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 502 nm (MWS (green)), 575 nm (LWS (long)) Estimated | 2.8 cycles per degree Estimated | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) mixed Derived | 21 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins |
| Northern leopard frog science page Lithobates pipiens | 2 receptor classes: 502 nm (MWS (green)), 562 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Measured | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) horizontal Measured mixed Derived | 21 Hz Estimated | yovanovich2017_amphibian_dual_rods, longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, caves2024, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1 |
| Phantasmal poison frog Epipedobates tricolor | 1 receptor class: 530 nm (MWS (green)) Measured | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | diurnal Measured (not re-verified) cone-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | schott2024_frog_opsins, caves2024, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, wan2023_neotropical_frog_opsins, inger2014_tbl3, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Rough-skinned green treefrog Boana cinerascens | 2 receptor classes: 518.5 nm (MWS (green)), 573 nm (LWS (long)) Measured | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | schott2024_frog_opsins, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Strawberry poison frog Oophaga pumilio | 3 receptor classes: 466 nm (SWS (blue)), 489 nm (MWS (green)), 561 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | diurnal Measured (not re-verified) cone-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | species_v1:Siddiqi et al. 2004, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, schott2024_frog_opsins, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1 |
| Tiger salamander science page Ambystoma tigrinum | 4 receptor classes: 434 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 521 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)), 620 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified) | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | cathemeral Measured (not re-verified) mixed Derived | 30 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, PMC1304267_thermal_activation, caves2024, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Tiger-striped leaf frog Callimedusa tomopterna | 1 receptor class: 589 nm (LWS (long)) Measured | 2.8 cycles per degree Group default | - | - | nocturnal Measured (not re-verified) rod-dominated Derived | 16.9 Hz Group default | schott2024_frog_opsins, caves2024, amphibio_v1, anderson_wiens2017_fg700, tetrapodtraits_3_0_1, inger2014_tbl3 |
Method: how we know what animals see. Accuracy: the census.