Frog and Toad Species Profiles
Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper)
The Spring Peeper is a small frog that ranges from .75 to 1.25 inches in length. It can range in color from brown to greenish to gray, and has a distinctive x-shaped marking on its back for which the Latin name is derived (crucifer refers to the x-shaped marking on the back). This frog used to be in the genus Hyla with the tree frogs, but has been reclassified in the genus Pseudacris which includes many species of chorus frogs.
Females lay between 800 and 1000 eggs singly or in small clusters of 2 to 3, which she attaches to submerged vegetation. The eggs hatch within 2 to 3 days, and it takes 3 to 4 months for the tadpoles to develop into frogs. It takes 1 year for the young frog to reach adulthood.
Spring Peepers are found in woody or brushy areas near temporary or semi-permanent bodies of water.
Females lay between 800 and 1000 eggs singly or in small clusters of 2 to 3, which she attaches to submerged vegetation. The eggs hatch within 2 to 3 days, and it takes 3 to 4 months for the tadpoles to develop into frogs. It takes 1 year for the young frog to reach adulthood.
Spring Peepers are found in woody or brushy areas near temporary or semi-permanent bodies of water.
Pseudacris feriarum (Southeastern Chorus Frog)
The Southeastern Chorus Frog ranges from .75 to 1.5 inches in length. The color can vary from light gray to dark brown. They can be identified by a white line on their upper lip and a dark line that begins at the nose, goes through the eye, and extends to the groin.
The female lays up to 100 eggs which she attaches to vegetation. It takes 18 days for the eggs to hatch, and 2 to 3 months for the tadpole to develop into a frog. The young frogs take 1 year to mature.
They are found in wet meadows, wet woodlands, or swampy bottomlands.
The female lays up to 100 eggs which she attaches to vegetation. It takes 18 days for the eggs to hatch, and 2 to 3 months for the tadpole to develop into a frog. The young frogs take 1 year to mature.
They are found in wet meadows, wet woodlands, or swampy bottomlands.
Pseudacris brachyphona (Mountain Chorus Frog)
Mountain Chorus Frogs are 1 to 1.25 inches long. They are brown, gray, or olive green in color. They have a triangle shaped marking on top of the head, a light line on the upper lip, and 2 stripes in the shape of reverse parentheses on the back.
Females lay up to 400 eggs in clusters of 10 to 50 eggs attached to vegetation in ditches or shallow ponds. It takes 2 months for tadpoles to grow into frogs. This is a secretive little frog about which little is known. They are most often observed when they gather at woodland pools in the early spring (March - May) to breed. Males call from open areas during both day and night. Adults are not often seen in the summer months and presumably live in the leaf litter and eat a variety of small invertebrates.
Mountain Chorus Frogs have a limited range. They are primarily found in the central Appalachian Mountains (West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a small portion of northeastern Tennessee), in central and northern Alabama, and in a small section of the north Georgia Mountains. This species is found in woodlands and forested areas, usually on hillsides at elevations of 3500 feet or higher. It prefers shallow bodies of water in which to breed, including spring and stream pools and ditches.
Females lay up to 400 eggs in clusters of 10 to 50 eggs attached to vegetation in ditches or shallow ponds. It takes 2 months for tadpoles to grow into frogs. This is a secretive little frog about which little is known. They are most often observed when they gather at woodland pools in the early spring (March - May) to breed. Males call from open areas during both day and night. Adults are not often seen in the summer months and presumably live in the leaf litter and eat a variety of small invertebrates.
Mountain Chorus Frogs have a limited range. They are primarily found in the central Appalachian Mountains (West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a small portion of northeastern Tennessee), in central and northern Alabama, and in a small section of the north Georgia Mountains. This species is found in woodlands and forested areas, usually on hillsides at elevations of 3500 feet or higher. It prefers shallow bodies of water in which to breed, including spring and stream pools and ditches.
Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog)
American Bullfrogs are from 3.5 to 6 inches long, which makes them the largest native frog in the United States. They range from green to brown in color and can be distinguished by the ridge that curves around the tympanum (eardrum) and a lack of a ridge going down the back.
Females lay 1000 to 5000 eggs in a thick film on the surface of the water. It takes 1-2 years for the tadpoles to transform into frogs. It takes another 2 years for the frog to reach full maturity.
These frogs live in medium to large bodies ponds or lakes.
Females lay 1000 to 5000 eggs in a thick film on the surface of the water. It takes 1-2 years for the tadpoles to transform into frogs. It takes another 2 years for the frog to reach full maturity.
These frogs live in medium to large bodies ponds or lakes.
Rana sphenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog)
Southern Leopard Frogs range from 2.5 to 3 inches long. They are brown/green in color with dark rounded spots on the back, a light line on the lip, and a light spot in the center of the tympanum. They also have a long, pointed snout.
Females lay 3000 to 5000 eggs in a clump and attached to stems of vegetation. It takes between 7 to 12 days for the eggs to hatch. Tadpoles take 2 to 3 months to develop into frogs.
These frogs are found in shallow pools of water from ponds to ditches.
Females lay 3000 to 5000 eggs in a clump and attached to stems of vegetation. It takes between 7 to 12 days for the eggs to hatch. Tadpoles take 2 to 3 months to develop into frogs.
These frogs are found in shallow pools of water from ponds to ditches.
Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog)
The Wood Frog is 1.25 to 3 inches long. They tend to be dark brown to pinkish in color and have a dark mask beginning at the snout, extending through the eye, and extending beyond the tympanum.
Females lay up to 3000 eggs in large masses that are attached to vegetation. They are communal breeders so multiple egg masses are often laid in the same place at the same time by multiple females. It takes approximately 2 months for the tadpoles to reach the frog stage, and it takes from 2 to 4 years for the frog to reach full maturity.
These frogs are found in rich, moist woodlands.
Females lay up to 3000 eggs in large masses that are attached to vegetation. They are communal breeders so multiple egg masses are often laid in the same place at the same time by multiple females. It takes approximately 2 months for the tadpoles to reach the frog stage, and it takes from 2 to 4 years for the frog to reach full maturity.
These frogs are found in rich, moist woodlands.
Bufo americanus (American Toad)
The American Toad ranges from 2 to 3.5 inches long. They can vary in color from tan to reddish to gray. They have 1 to 2 warts per dark spot, but there can be some variability in that this may not be seen some individuals (see the above photo). The cranial crests do not touch the parotid glands, as they do in the Fowler's Toad, and there is spotting on the chest.
The females lay spiral strands approximately 4000-8000 eggs. The tadpoles reach the toad stage in about 2 months, and it takes 2 to 3 years for the toad to reach maturity.
These toads are found in a variety of habitats from woodlands to back yards.
The females lay spiral strands approximately 4000-8000 eggs. The tadpoles reach the toad stage in about 2 months, and it takes 2 to 3 years for the toad to reach maturity.
These toads are found in a variety of habitats from woodlands to back yards.
Bufo fowleri (Fowler's Toad)
Fowler's Toads range from 2 to 3 inches long. Their coloration varies from gray to brown to red. They typically have more than 2 warts per spot on their backs, but there is some variability between individuals. The warts can be reddish in color. There is no space between the parotid gland and the cranial crests, and there is no spotting on the chest.
Females lay 7,000 to 10,000 eggs in long strands that are attached to vegetation. It takes 5 to 7 days for the eggs to hatch. It takes 30 to 40 days for the tadpoles to reach the toad stage, and it takes 2 years for the toad to become an adult.
These toads are found in areas ranging from backyards to woodlands.
Females lay 7,000 to 10,000 eggs in long strands that are attached to vegetation. It takes 5 to 7 days for the eggs to hatch. It takes 30 to 40 days for the tadpoles to reach the toad stage, and it takes 2 years for the toad to become an adult.
These toads are found in areas ranging from backyards to woodlands.