Frogs & Toads

Wood FrogRana sylvatica

Description: Brown, tan, or rust colored, and usually have a dark eye mask. Prominent Dorsolateral ridges. Blotch on chest, white underside. Swollen thumbs on males.

Dimensions: 1 3/8-3 1/4")

Voice: Raspy quacks.

Breeding: Spring. Eggs attached in clusters to underwater vegetation.

Habitat:  Moist woodland, grassland or tundra.

Discussion:  Also found in the Arctic circle. Diurnal. Severe breeder in cooler areas. Hibernates during winter, under forest debris. Omnivorous.

Spring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Description:  3/4-1 3/8". Tan to brown to gray above, with darker X mark on back. Belly pale and unmarked. Large toe pads.

Voice : A high-pitched ascending whistle, sometimes with a short trill, given once per second, in a multiple-frog chorus: PREEP-preep, PREEP-preep. Males call from shrubs and trees standing in or overhanging water.

Breeding: In northern areas, March to June, with the start of warm rains. Males clasp females just behind the forelimbs; masses of eggs are laid in water.

Habitat:  Wooded areas in or near permanent or temporarily flooded ponds and swamps.

Discussion : The Spring Peeper is one of the most familiar frogs in the East, although its nighttime chorus -- one of the first signs of spring -- is heard far more often than the frog is seen. Treefrogs are reluctant jumpers. They are arboreal and adapted to walk and climb. Their toe tips are expanded into sticky adhesive pads used in climbing. Cartilage between the last two bones of each toe allows the tip of the toe to swivel backward and sideways while keeping the sticky toe pad flat against the climbing surface

American ToadBufo americanus

Description: Brown-reddish-olive. Sometimes patterned. Brownish/orange warts. Underside spotted. Dark throat on males.Dimensions: 2-4 3/8"

Warning Toads have enlarged glands (called the paratoid glands) on the side of the neck, one behind each eye. These glands secrete a viscous white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any would-be predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and, in extreme cases, death. Toads pose a danger to pets, which may pounce on and bite them. Humans should take care to wash their hands after handling a toad, and to avoid touching the mouth or eyes until having done so.

Subspecies: Eastern - 1-2 warts. Voice: Musical trill. Lasts 30 seconds.Breeding: March-July.Habitat: Grassy yards, forested mountains.Discussion: Nocturnal. Diet mainly insects.

Fowler’s ToadBufo fowleri

Description: 2 1/2-3 3/4". Mid-size, usually gray-brown toad with light stripe down middle of back. Large brown blotches on back, each with 3 or more rusty warts. Chest unspotted. Prominent cranial crests contact elongate parotoids. Yellow, green, brown, or gray.

Warning: Toads have enlarged glands (called the paratoid glands) on the side of the neck, one behind each eye. These glands secrete a viscous white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any would-be predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and, in extreme cases, death. Toads pose a danger to pets, which may pounce on and bite them. Humans should take care to wash their hands after handling a toad, and to avoid touching the mouth or eyes until having done so.

Voice: Plaintive, descending, 1- to 3-second "wraaaaaah."Breeding: March to August. Egg strings are attached to vegetation in shalllow water.Habitat: Sandy areas near marshes, irrigation ditches, backyards, and temporary rain pools.Discussion: This is a common toad in the East, active night and day from April to October.

Chorus Frogseveral subspecies

Description: Brown/gray-green. Crescent shaped stripes. Yellowish underside. Round, small toe-tips.

Dimensions: 1-1 1/2"

Voice: Rapid squeaking. Higher pitched than other frogs.

Breeding: February-April. Breeds in shallow watered pond edges. Eggs laid in groups of 10-50.

Habitat: Temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, freshwater springs, ponds, open excavations, and canals and ditches.

Discussion: Nocturnal. Leaps

Northern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

Description: Dark green-brown. Sometimes yellowish/pink/red or black. Rounded snout with short legs and long hind feet. Stripes on thigh.

Dimensions: 5/8-1 1/2"

Subspecies:  Eastern, Blanchard's ,Coastal

Voice: Clicking sound.

Breeding: April-August. After rainfall. Eggs laid one at a time, attached to underwater vegetation.

Habitat: Temperate forests, shallow pools and ponds. Slow moving bodies of water.

Discussion: Hide amongst grass, difficult to catch. Diet includes small insects, flies and mosquitoes mostly. Can leap up to 6 feet, are excellent swimmers

Green FrogRana clamitans

Description Bright yellow throat on male. Green-bronze/brown. External eardrums large. Dorsolateral ridges. White belly, darker pattern of stripes/spots.

Dimensions 5.4-10.8cm. (2 1/8-4 1/4")

Subspecies Bronze, Northern GreenVoice Rasp, similar to a banjo twang. Repeated rapidly.

Breeding March-August. Takes place underwater. 3-4 clutches of up to 7000 eggs laid under water. Metamorphosis may happen in the same breeding season.

Habitat Shallow fresh water—ponds, road-side ditches, lakes, swamps, streams, and brooks

Discussion Nocturnal. Rest along shore, dive into water if approached/threatened. Rarely vocalises if caught. Eats any animal it can fit in its mouth, mostly insects

Pickerel FrogRana palustris

Description: Tan. Parallel rows of spots, square or round, sometimes forming a stripe. Light stripe on jaw. Yellow dorsolateral folds and yellow/orange belly and underneath hind legs.

Dimensions: 1 ¾ - 3 1/2"

Voice: Low croak.

Breeding: March-May. Eggs attached underwater in clusters to vegetation.

Habitat: Damp areas, densely covered with vegetation near streams, swamps & ponds.

Discussion: Releases secretions that are toxic to other frogs. Nocturnal. Hibernates in winter, from October

Leopard FrogRana pipiens

Description: Green to brown in dorsal color with large dark circular spots on its back, sides and legs. Spot is normally bordered by a lighter ring.

Dimensions: 2-5"

Voice: Guttural snore. 3 seconds long. Clucking noises afterwards.

Breeding: March-June. Up to 6,500 eggs laid in shallow water. Transforms after 70-110 days.

Habitat: Freshwater - ponds & marshes. Moist fields, mountain meadows.

Discussion: Crickets, flies, worms, and smaller frogs. Using their large mouths, they can even swallow birds and garter snakes. Nocturnal. Leaps into water when pursued

Bull FrogRana catesbeiana

Description: Largest in North America. Green-yellow with dark gray mottling. External eardrum large. Webbed hind feet except largest toe. Underside white with gray mottling. Darker markings on hind legs.

Dimensions: 3 ½ - 8"

Voice: Deep call. Heard up to a quarter mile away.

Breeding: May-July in north. Eggs attached to underwater vegetation. Tadpoles take up to 2 years to transform.

Habitat: Larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds & lakes.

Discussion Nocturnal. Found at waters edge. Flees to vegetation or water when threatened. Some have caught small birds to eat and snakes. Normal diet is insects, crayfish and small frogs. Harvesting of frogs legs has lead to the introduction of this species outside its natural range

Gray Tree FrogHyla versicolor

Description: Thigh of hindleg bright orange/yellow. Rough green- brownish skin. Dark blotches on back.

Dimensions: 1 ¼ - 2 3/8"

Voice: Resontating trill. Mostly heard in spring/summer.

Breeding: April-August. In southern parts breeds in winter.

Habitat: Woodland trees & shrubs near water.

Discussion: Nocturnal. Sits in trees, comes down at night to breed and chorus.