Introduction

This page discusses the French common names for reptiles and amphibians native to Canada and some problems in their translation.

Standard French common names for Canadian reptiles and amphibians were first published in Henri Ouellet and Francis R. Cook, Les noms français des amphibiens et reptiles du Canada: une list provisoire (1981), and appeared again in Francis R. Cook, Introduction to Canadian Amphibians and Reptiles (1984). The list allowed bilingual and French-language publications in Canada to use a standard set of French-language common names for Canadian species.

Smallmouth Salamander A key conceptual difference between the French and English common names used here is that the French versions give names by family, rather than by order: for example, we have rainette for treefrog, couleuvre for colubrid snake, triton for newt, and chélydre for snapping turtle. In the French versions, the noun does the work, and adjectives are kept to a minimum: couleuvre de l’ouest is much more succinct than “Western Terrestrial Garter Snake.”

But Ouellet and Cook’s list of names is not without problems, particularly with respect to similar species, with similar names, that are not native to Canada. For example, one could argue that both kingsnakes and Queen Snakes could lay a valid claim to couleuvre royale, and both Butler’s and Short-headed Garter Snakes could be called couleuvre à petite tête. Not only that, but the name assigned to North American Ringneck Snakes, couleuvre à collier, is already the accepted French common name for European Grass Snakes! One wonders whether the possibility of French-speaking researchers or hobbyists discussing non-Canadian species was considered. Such problems in translation are discussed below.

And, since Ouellet and Cook assigned common names only at the species level, taxonomic changes have rendered some usages problematic. In most cases, this table follows the usage on the CARCNET web site where its taxonomy is up to date. Other cases are dealt with in each species’s listing, below. In an act of unbelieveable hubris, I have also attempted to assign French common names to some subspecies.

  1. Frogs
  2. Salamanders
  3. Lizards
  4. Snakes
  5. Turtles

Frogs

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)
French Name: Rainette grillon
Usage: Referring to Acris crepitans simply as rainette grillon may cause confusion in the context of other frogs of the genus Acris, known as cricket frogs in English, in particular Acris gryllus. Suggest using rainette grillon boréale or rainette grillon du nord in contexts where there is such possibility of confusion.
Subspecies: Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, A. c. blanchardi, no usage found. Suggested usage: rainette grillon de Blanchard.
Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei)
French Name: Grenouille-à-queue
Taxonomy: A. truei has recently been split into two species, the Pacific Tailed Frog, A. truei (which CARCNET translates as grenouille-à-queue côtière but might be better translated as grenouille-à-queue du Pacifique), and the Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog, A. montanus (grenouille-à-queue des Rocheuses).
American Toad (Bufo americanus)
Alternate Latin Name: Anaxyrus americanus
French Name: Crapaud d'Amérique
Western Toad (Bufo boreas)
Alternate Latin Name: Anaxyrus boreas
French Name: Crapaud de l’ouest
Fowler’s Toad (Bufo fowleri)
Alternate Latin Name: Anaxyrus fowleri
French Name: Crapaud de Fowler
Taxonomy: At the time the list of French common names was made, Fowler’s Toad was considered a subspecies of Bufo woodhousei, and the French common name assigned to it was crapaud de Woodhouse. Crapaud de Fowler is used on the CARCNET web site.
Canadian Toad (Bufo hemiophrys)
Alternate Latin Name: Anaxyrus hemiophrys
French Name: Crapaud du Canada
Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus)
Alternate Latin Name: Anaxyrus cognatus
French Name: Crapaud des steppes
Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
French Name: Rainette criarde
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
French Name: Rainette versicolore
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
French Name: Rainette crucifère
Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
French Name: Rainette faux-grillon boréale
Taxonomy: Pseudacris maculata was considered a subspecies of Pseudacris triseriata at the time the list of French common names was made, and rainette faux-grillon applied to both. The modifiers of boréale for maculata and de l’ouest for triseriata are taken from the CARCNET web site.
Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla)
French Name: Rainette du Pacifique
Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)
French Name: Rainette faux-grillon de l'ouest
Taxonomy: Pseudacris maculata was considered a subspecies of Pseudacris triseriata at the time the list of French common names was made, and rainette faux-grillon applied to both. The modifiers of boréale for maculata and de l’ouest for triseriata are taken from the CARCNET web site.
Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)
French Name: Grenouille à pattes rouges
Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates catesbeiana
French Name: Ouaouaron
Green Frog (Rana clamitans)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates clamitans
French Name: Grenouille verte
Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)
French Name: Grenouille maculée de Columbia
Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates palustris
French Name: Grenouille des marais
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates pipiens
French Name: Grenouille léopard
Usage: Grenouille léopard could be unclear in the context of other frogs referred to as leopard frogs in English, e.g. Rana blairi, R. chiricahuensis, R. onca, R. sphenocephala, R. subaquavocalis, and R. yavapaiensis. Suggest using grenouille léopard boréale or grenouille léopard du nord for Rana pipiens in contexts where there is such possibility of confusion.
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa)
French Name: Grenouille maculée de l’Orégon
Mink Frog (Rana septentrionalis)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates septentrionalis
French Name: Grenouille du nord
Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)
Alternate Latin Name: Lithobates sylvatica
French Name: Grenouille des bois
Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)
French Name: Crapaud des plaines
Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana)
French Name: Crapaud du Grand Bassin

Salamanders

Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile)
French Name: Salamandre foncée
Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
French Name: Salamandre de Jefferson
Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
French Name: Salamandre à points bleus
Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum)
French Name: Salamandre à longs doigts
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
French Name: Salamandre maculée
Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
French Name: Salamandre à nez court
Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Alternate Latin Name: Ambystoma tigrinum
French Name: Salamandre tigrée
Taxonomy: At the time the list of French common names was made, Ambystoma mavortium and Ambystoma tigrinum were considered the same species. This question is now in dispute. If the proposal to split western species of A. tigrinum into A. mavortium is accepted, I have as yet no suggestions on how to distinguish between two salamandres tigrées.
Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans)
French Name: Salamandre errant
Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)
French Name: Salamandre sombre
Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
French Name: Grand salamandre du nord
Common Ensantina (Ensantina eschscholzii)
French Name: Salamandre variable
Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata)
French Name: Salamandre à deux lignes
Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
French Name: Salamandre à quatre doigts
Common Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
French Name: Necture tacheté
Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridiscens)
French Name: Triton vert
Northern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
French Name: Salamandre rayée
Coeur d’Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis)
French Name: Salamandre de Coeur d’Alène
Western Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum)
French Name: Salamandre à dos rayé
Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)
French Name: Triton rugueux

Lizards

Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea)
French Name: Lézard-alligator boréal
Northern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Alternate Latin Name: Plestiodon fasciatus
French Name: Scinque pentaligne
Usage: Scinque pentaligne could also apply to the Southeastern Five-lined Skink, Eumeces inexpectatus.
Prairie Skink (Eumeces septentrionalis)
Alternate Latin Name: Plestiodon septentrionalis
French Name: Scinque des prairies
Western Skink (Eumeces skiltonianus)
Alternate Latin Name: Plestiodon skiltonianus
French Name: Scinque de l’ouest
Pygmy Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii)
French Name: Iguane pygmée à cornes courtes
Mountain Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)
French Name: Grand iguane à petits cornes

Snakes

Rubber Boa (Charina bottae)
French Name: Boa caoutchouc
Racer (Coluber constrictor)
French Name: Couleuvre agile
Subspecies: I suggest using couleuvre agile bleue for the Blue Racer, C. c. foxii, and couleuvre agile à ventre jaune for the Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer, C. c. flaviventris.
Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis)
French Name: Couleuvre à queue fine
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
French Name: Crotale des bois
Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
French Name: Crotale de l’ouest
Taxonomy: Some authorities split the Prairie Rattlesnake, C. v. viridis, and the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, C. v. oreganus, into separate species.
Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
French Name: Couleuvre à collier
Usage: In certain contexts, couleuvre à collier could be confused with the European Grass Snake, Natrix natrix, whose common French name is also couleuvre à collier.
Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe gloydi)
French Name: Couleuvre fauve
Usage: Couleuvre fauve originally designated Elaphe vulpina before the eastern subspecies, E. v. gloydi, which is the one found in Canada, was elevated to full species status in 1991. As a result, couleuvre fauve de l’est is sometimes used to designate Elaphe gloydi.
Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
Alternate Latin Name: Elaphe spiloides
French Name: Couleuvre obscure
Subspecies: Couleuvre obscure is appropriate for the northern subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta that is found in Canada, but southern subspecies such as E. o. quadrivittata (the Yellow Rat Snake) and E. o. rossalleni (the Everglades Rat Snake), are a bit too brightly coloured for it.
Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
French Name: Couleuvre à nez retroussé
Other species: Since Heterodon nasicus and H. platirhinos (couleuvre à nez plat) have different names, it is unclear what name could be assigned to H. simus, the Southern Hognose Snake.
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
French Name: Couleuvre à nez plat
Other species: Since Heterodon nasicus (couleuvre à nez retroussé) and H. platirhinos have different names, it is unclear what name could be assigned to H. simus, the Southern Hognose Snake.
Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata)
French Name: Couleuvre nocturne
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
French Name: Couleuvre tachetée
Subspecies: Couleuvre tachetée is appropriate for the subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum found in Canada, but not for the many tricoloured subspecies of L. triangulum found from the southern U.S. through Ecuador.
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
French Name: Couleuvre d’eau
Usage: It’s unclear how to differentiate between this species and the nine other Nerodia found in the United States.
Subspecies: Couleuvre d’eau du Lac Érié has been used for N. s. insularum; couleuvre d’eau du nord could be used for N. s. sipedon.
Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Alternate Latin Name: Liochlorophis vernalis
French Name: Couleuvre verte
Usage: Couleuvre verte fails to differentiate between this species and Opheodrys aestivus, the Rough Green Snake. Suggest using couleuvre verte lisse to specify this species in contexts where it would otherwise be unclear.
Bullsnake/Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)
French Name: Couleuvre à nez mince
Usage: It’s unclear how to differentiate between this species and other Pituophis, particularly Pine Snakes (P. melanoleucus), or among its subspecies. P. c. deserticola could be the couleuvre à nez mince du Grand Bassin, but translating “Bullsnake” has always been problematic: “bull” is a measure of size, rather than a metaphor for male cattle; serpent-taureau is just wrong.
Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)
French Name: Couleuvre royale
Usage: Couleuvre royale makes a translation of “kingsnake” (Lampropeltis) somewhat problematic; I translate the latter as serpent-roi instead.
Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
French Name: Massasauga
Alternate: Crotale massasauga is also used.
Subspecies: The eastern subspecies found in Canada, S. c. catenatus, is sometimes referred to as (crotale) massasauga de l’est.
Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
French Name: Couleuvre brune
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
French Name: Couleuvre à ventre rouge
Butler’s Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri)
French Name: Couleuvre à petite tête
Usage: Couleuvre à petite tête makes translating the common name of the closely related Short-headed Garter Snake, Thamnophis brachystoma, problematic.
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans)
French Name: Couleuvre de l’est
Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides)
French Name: Couleuvre du nord-ouest
Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)
French Name: Couleuvre des plaines
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis septentrionalis)
French Name: Couleuvre mince
Subspecies: The Northern Ribbon Snake, T. s. septentrionalis, is the one found in Canada; couleuvre mince du nord could be used to refer to it.
Usage: Couleuvre mince could equally refer to the Western Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus; differentiation would be problematic in some contexts.
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
French Name: Couleuvre rayée
Subspecies: Use couleuvre rayée de l’est for the Eastern Garter Snake, T. s. sirtalis, and couleuvre rayée à flancs rouges for the Red-sided Garter Snake, T. s. parietalis.

Turtles

Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)
French Name: Tortue-molle à épines
Subspecies: Eastern Spiny Softshell, A. s. spinifera; suggest using tortue-molle à épines de l’est.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
French Name: Caouane
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
French Name: Tortue verte
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
French Name: Chélydre serpentine
Painted Turtle (Chryemys picta)
French Name: Tortue peinte
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)
French Name: Tortue ponctuée
Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta)
Alternate Latin Name: Glyptemys insculpta
French Name: Tortue des bois
Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata)
Alternate Latin Name: Actinemys marmorata
French Name: Tortue de l’ouest
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
French Name: Tortue luth
Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
French Name: Tortue mouchetée
Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
French Name: Tortue géographique
Atlantic Ridley’s Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
French Name: Tortue bâtarde
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
French Name: Tortue musquée
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
French Name: Tortue tabatière

Last updated: March 17, 2008.