2015 frogs and_toads_mo_co

Frogs and Toads of Montgomery County Maryland

Common Frogs and Toads of Common Frogs and Toads of Montgomery CountyMontgomery County

Species Calling CalendarSpecies Feb March April May June July Aug

Spring Peeper x x

Wood Frog x x

Upland Chorus Frog x x x

Pickerel Frog x x

Southern Leopard Frog x x x x

American Toad x x x x x

American Bullfrog x (late) x x x

Fowler's Toad x (late) x x x

Northern Green Frog x (late) x x x

Gray Treefrog x x x

Cope's Gray Treefrog x x x

Northern Cricket Frog x x x x

Wood FrogWood FrogLithobates sylvaticusLithobates sylvaticus

(formerly (formerly Rana sylvatica)Rana sylvatica)

© National Park Service

Wood FrogWood FrogSize: 1 3/8-3 ¼ inches

Striped appearance is common in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and points north, un-striped found south and east.

The only North American frog found north of the Arctic Circle. Currently being studied for their ability to live after freezing solid.

Habitat: Moist woodlands in eastern areas; open grasslands in western; tundra in the far north. Obligate seasonal pool breeder.

© Jim Harding, MSU

Wood FrogWood Frog

Voice: Series of short raspy quacks

Listen carefully! Call is somewhat muted and does not project or carry very far.

© Jim Harding, MSU

Spring PeeperSpring Peeper(Pseudacris crucifer)(Pseudacris crucifer)

© Jim Harding, MSU

Spring PeeperSpring Peeper

Size: ¾ -1 ½ inches

The spring peeper is one of the most familiar frogs in the East, although it is heard far more often than seen.

Habitat: Wooded areas in or near temporarily flooded ponds and swamps© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

Spring PeeperSpring Peeper

Voice: High-pitched ascending whistle, sometimes with a short trill, given once per second, in a multiple-frog chorus: peep, peep, peep.

Agonistic call is a sharp preep, often confused with other chorus frog species.

Males call from shrubs and trees near water or tucked low in emergent vegetation.

© Jim Harding, MSU

Pickerel FrogPickerel Frog(Lithobates (Rana) palustris)(Lithobates (Rana) palustris)

© Jim Harding, MSU

Pickerel FrogPickerel Frog

Size: 1¾ - 3 inches

An irritating skin secretion makes this frog unappetizing to some predators. The secretion will kill other frogs kept in the same collecting container or terrarium.

Habitat: Slow-moving waters and other damp areas preferably with low, dense vegetation; streams, swamps, and meadows

© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

Pickerel FrogPickerel FrogVoice: Steady, low, snore-like croak. Raspy in quality and may last up to 2 seconds.

May call in a rolling snore while under water.

© USFWS

Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog(Lithobates sphenocephalus)(Lithobates sphenocephalus)

© Dick Bartlett

Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog

Size: 2 - 5 inches

To elude a predator this frog dives into the water, makes a sharp turn while still submerged, and surfaces amid vegetation at the water's edge.

Frequently hunted for frogs' legs.

Habitat: Any freshwater location

© Dick Bartlett

Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog

Range: From New Jersey to the Florida Keys; west to Texas.

Voice: Series of short, throaty, chuckle-like croaks. Males call while afloat or from land. © Virginia Herpetological Society

Northern Cricket Frog(Acris crepitans)

© Jim Harding, MSU

Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Cricket Frog

Size: 5/8 - 1 ½ inches

Among the most agile leapers and can jump surprisingly long distances (5 - 6 feet) for its small size.

Habitat: Sunny ponds of shallow water with good growth of vegetation in the water or on the shore; slow-moving streams with sunny banks

© Jim Harding, MSU

Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Cricket Frog

Voice: Sharp, measured clicking, repeated in rapid succession.

Call reminiscent of two glass marbles being tapped together or the shaking of a spray paint can.

Call produced through a single vocal sac.

© Jim Harding, MSU

American ToadAmerican Toad(Anaxyrus americanus)(Anaxyrus americanus)Formerly Formerly Bufo americanusBufo americanus

© Jim Harding, MSU

American ToadAmerican Toad

• Size: 2- 4 inches

• Toads lay eggs in a long string (e.g., note strands in the photo), while frogs lay them in clumps.

• Habitat: Mowed grassy yards to forested mountains. Wherever there is abundant moisture and insects.

© Joe Greathouse, Oglebay’s Good Zoo

American ToadAmerican Toad

Voice: A pleasant musical trill lasting 5 to 30 seconds.

Call sounds like a simultaneous whistle and hum.

Single vocal sac that is large, round, and prominent when inflated

© Jim Harding, MSU

Fowler’s ToadFowler’s ToadAnaxyrus (Bufo) fowleriAnaxyrus (Bufo) fowleri

© Jim Harding, MSU

Fowler’s ToadFowler’s Toad

• Size: 2 ½ - 3 ¾ inches

• Likes to burrow into the ground during hot, dry periods and during the winter

• Habitat: Sandy areas near marshes, irrigation ditches, backyards, and temporary rain pools

© USFWS

Fowler’s ToadFowler’s Toad

Voice: Plaintive, descending, 1- to 4-second "wraaaaaah.”

Brash and nasal in quality.

Produced through a single vocal sac.


Green FrogGreen Frog(Lithobates (Rana) clamitans)(Lithobates (Rana) clamitans)

© NOAA

Green FrogGreen Frog

Size: 2 - 4 inches

Habitat: Lives close to shallow water, springs, streams, swamps, brooks, and edges of ponds and lakes. May be found among rotting debris of fallen trees.© USGS

Green FrogGreen FrogVoice: like the twang of a loose banjo string, usually given as a single note.

Burst of sound that when given in rapid succession, will get progressively quieter.

Made through a pair of internal vocal pouches. © Jim Harding, MSU

American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog((Lithobates catesbianus)Lithobates catesbianus)

formerly formerly Rana catesibanaRana catesibana

© USGS

American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog• Size: 3 – 8 inches.

• The largest frog in North America.

• Large specimens have been known to catch and swallow small birds and young snakes

• Habitat: Ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams with vegetation. (Must be large enough to avoid crowding). Usually found on the bank at water’s edge. When frightened, the bullfrog is likely to flee into nearby vegetation.

© Jim Harding, MSU


American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog

Voice: Deep-pitched “jug o'rum” resembling the bellow of a bull.

Sound produced by a single internal vocal sac that inflates to form a bulge under the chin. Call can be heard for more than a quarter mile.

© Jim Harding, MSU

Gray TreefrogGray TreefrogSize: 1 ¼ - 2 ½ inches

Two species of gray treefrog are identical in appearance. The difference is the call.

Gray treefrogs can change color from green to gray.

Habitat: Trees or shrubs growing in or near permanent water

© Jim Harding, MSU

Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog

Voice: A hearty, resonating trill, usually heard in spring and early summer.

The Cope’s gray treefrog has half as many chromosomes as the gray treefrog. Its call is a faster, raspier less musical trill.

© Jim Harding, MSU

© Jim Harding, MSU

Cope’s Gray TreefrogCope’s Gray Treefrog

Size: 1 ¼ - 2 3/8 inches

Habitat: Trees and shrubs in or near ponds or other wetlands

© Dick Bartlett

Cope’s Gray TreefrogVoice: A hearty, raspy resonating trill, usually heard in spring and early summer.

Faster trill that is less musical than that of the identical-looking gray treefrog

© Dick Bartlett

A few odd ones

Upland Chorus Frog

Size: 3/4 – 1.5 inches

Habitat: grassy ditches, flooded fields and temporary wetlands

Upland Chorus FrogVoice: a regularly repeated “crrreek,” sounding similar to fingers running over the teeth of a comb

Call is often heard very early in the season

© Dick Bartlett

Green Treefrog(Hyla cinerea)

Size: 1 – 2.5 inches

Habitat: Wetlands with plentiful floating vegetation, grasses, and cattails.

Green Treefrog

• Voice: A monotone queenk, queenk, queenk

• Often heard in late spring and early summer.

POP QUIZ!

•Spring Peeper

•Green Frog

•Gray Treefrog

CONSULT LOCAL RESOURCES• Frogs and Toads of Montgomery County:

• http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/water/frogs-and-toads.html

• Maryland Quiz

– https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/Frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=publicQuiz.StartPublicQuiz

• Northeastern Species

– Species of Toads and Frogs Found in New York: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7487.html

– Online Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians - Frogs and Toads (New Jersey): http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/fieldguide_herps.htm#frogs-toads

– Discover Maryland’s Herps - Field Guide to Maryland’s Frogs and Toads: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/herps/Anura/fieldguide_OrderAnura.asp

– Frogs and Toads of West Virginia: http://www.marshall.edu/herp/anurans.htm

CONSULT LOCAL RESOURCES• Southeastern Species

– Frogs and Toads of Virginia: http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/frogsandtoads/frogs_and_toads_of_virginia.htm

– Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC/anurans/anurans.html

– USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center - Anura: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/herps/Frogs_and_Toads/frogs_and_toads.html

– USGS South Central Amphibian Research Monitoring Initiative: http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/sc_armi/frogs_and_toads/index.html

2015 frogs and_toads_mo_co

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