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Tennessee Anuran Identification Identification of Tennessee Anurans Hyla versicolor Matthew J. Gray College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Tennessee-Knoxville Suborder Suborder Mesobatrachia Anuran Families Neobatrachia Order Anura Bufonidae Scaphiopodidae Microhylidae 2 1 1 True Toads American Spadefoots Narrow-mouthed Toads Hylidae Ranidae 10 7 Tree Frogs True Frogs Morphological Characteristics Ranidae, Hylidae Bufonidae Glanular glands 1 Family American toad Bufonidae (Anaxyrus americanus) Eggs: 1-2 strings (4,000-12,000 eggs) >10 m length Breeding Call •Long, musical trill (constant) Breeding Season •Early (March) Characteristics: SVL = 3” • Parotoid glands rarely touch cranial crest • 1-2 glanular glands “warts” per dark spot Family American toad Bufonidae (Anaxyrus americanus) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide Family Fowler’s toad Bufonidae (Anaxyrus fowleri) Eggs: 1-2 strings (5,000-10,000 eggs) <3 m length Breeding Call •Nasal "w-a-a-h" •Sheep blea ting or baby crying Breeding Season •Mid (May) Characteristics: SVL = 2.5” • Parotoid glands touch cranial crest • >3 glanular glands “warts” per dark spot 2 Family Fowler’s toad Bufonidae (Anaxyrus fowleri) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide Family Eastern spadefoot Scaphiopodidae (Scaphiopus holbrookii) Metatarsal tubercle Breeding Call •Nasal grunts: “wahh,,, wahh, wahh” •Young crow Breeding Season T-storms SVL = 2” •Late (June,July) Characteristics: (heavy rain) • Vertical Pupil • Glanular glands but no parotoid glands Family Eastern spadefoot Xeric Adapted Scaphiopodidae (Scaphiopus holbrookii) Genera Distribution: EM-S http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Southeastern United States • Statewide (rare Smokies) 3 Family Eastern Microhylidae narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) Breeding Call •High pitch buzz “bzzzzzz” •Insect wings T-storms Breeding Season SVL = 1” •Late (June, July) Characteristics: (heavy rain) • Pointed snout, short limbs, plump body • Folded skin between eyes Family Eastern Microhylidae narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) Distribution: EM-S http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Southeastern United States • Statewide (rare Smokies) Specialize in eating ants! Family Northern Acris = locust crepitans = clattering Hylidae cricket frog (Acris crepitans) Breeding Call •Metallic clicking Breeding Season (2 metal balls) •Tempo changes: •Mid (May) (slow-fast-slow) SVL = <1” Characteristics: • Dark triangle between eyes; often bright “Y” racing stripe • >1/2 of longest toe on rear feet webbed 4 Family Northern Emergent wetlands with Hylidae cricket frog direct sun (Acris crepitans) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Midwest and Eastern U.S. • Statewide Family Southern Acris = locust gryllus = cricket Hylidae cricket frog (Acris gryllus) Breeding Call •Metallic clicking Breeding Season (2 metal balls) •Raspier, shorter •Late (June, July) •Tempo constant SVL = <1” Characteristics: • Dark triangle between eyes; often bright “Y” racing stripe (more distinct line than A. crepitans) • <1/2 of longest toe on rear feet webbed Family Southern Highly dexterous Hylidae cricket frog (Acris gryllus) Distribution: EM/F http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Deep Southern U.S. • Southwest TN 5 Family Bird-voiced Highly arboreal: forested Hylidae treefrog wetlands and (Hyla avivoca) streams Breeding Call •Bird-like Chirping Breeding Season •Whistling for dog •Mid (May, June) SVL = 1.5” Characteristics: Coloration can be highly variable! • Light green or gray with light-colored patch under eye • No flash colors like gray treefrogs Family Bird-voiced Hylidae treefrog (Hyla avivoca) Distribution: F http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Primarily MAV • Western TN Family Green treefrog Hylidae (Hyla cinerea) Breeding Call •Short nasal repeating Breeding Season "quonk" •Bicycle horn •Late (June, July) Characteristics: SVL = 2” • Always green, smooth back and belly • White-yellow stripe extending from upper lip mid-laterally 6 Family Green treefrog Good climbers, Nocturnal Hylidae (Hyla cinerea) Distribution: F, EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Southeastern United States • Western TN Family Cope’s Gray Hylidae treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Breeding Call •Short raspy trill (constant) •½ chromosomes of H. versicolor •Faster than H. versicolor 34-69 pulses/sec Breeding Season •Mid (May, June) Highly arboreal: forested wetlands Characteristics: SVL = 2” • Gray to greenish with mottled back • Yellow-orange flash colors under legs Family Cope’s Gray Hylidae treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Distribution: EM, F http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide 7 Family Gray treefrog Hylidae (Hyla versicolor) Breeding Call •Short raspy trill Breeding Season •Slower than H. chlihrysoscelis •Mid (May, June) 17-35 pulses/sec •2X chromosomes of H. chrysoscelis Distribution •West Tennessee Characteristics: SVL = 2” Species of • Gray to greenish with mottled back Concern • Yellow-orange flash colors under legs (G5, S5) Family Barking Hylidae treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) Breeding Call •Steady raspy honk Breeding Season •Sounds similar to a beagle •Late (June, July) bark or Canada goose •Higher pitch than green frog Largest of the treefrogs in Tennessee Characteristics: SVL = 2-3” • Solid green (granulated) or green with dark spots • White upper lip does not extend mid-laterally Family Barking Species of Hylidae treefrog Concern (Hyla gratiosa) (G5, S3) Distribution: F http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Deep Southern U.S. • West TN & Cumberland Plateau 8 Family Spring Peeper Hylidae (Pseudacris crucifer) Breeding Call •Clear Distinct Peep Breeding Season •Early (Feb, March) “Cross bearer” Prefers Characteristics: SVL = 1” woodland pools • Light-brown, smooth skin with dark line between eyes • Dark cross on back Family Spring Peeper Hylidae (Pseudacris crucifer) Distribution: F/EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide Family Mountain Chorus Frog Hylidae (Pseudacris brachyphona) Breeding Call •Short, raspy call that Breeding Season riiithises in pitch •Running finger over •Early (April) comb but duller than P. feriarum 1/3 size of a Characteristics: SVL = 1” wood frog • Light-brown, smooth skin with dark line through eye • Backward parentheses on back (sometimes) 9 Family Mountain Chorus Frog Hylidae (Pseudacris brachyphona) Forested wetlands >1000 m elevation Distribution: F/EM-S http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Southern Appalachia • Mostly Cumberland Mountains and Plateau Family Southeastern Chorus Frog Hylidae (Pseudacris feriarum) Breeding Call Earliest breeding frog •Running finger over combbb bu t more metallic than P. brachyphona SVL = 1” Note: call rises (gray treefrogs do not) Breeding Season Characteristics: •Early (January) • Light to dark brown with dark triangle between eyes • Three dark dorsal lines (usually) Family Southeastern Chorus Frog Hylidae (Pseudacris feriarum) Distribution: EM Prefer emergent wetlands http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Southeastern United States • Statewide 10 Chorus Frog Distributions Spotted Chorus Frog (P. clarkii) Family Crawfish Frog Ranidae (Lithobates areolatus) Lives in crawfish and small mammal burrows. Breeding Call •Deep "Waaaaa" Breeding Season •Sounds like •Early (March) someone snoring SVL = 2.5” Species of Concern Characteristics: (G4, S4) • Dark spots encircled in white, white throat • Dorsal lateral folds very apparent Family Crawfish Frog Known to eat crawfish and Ranidae (Lithobates areolatus) small amphibians. Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Mississippi Alluvial Valley • West Tennessee 11 Family Gopher Frog Ranidae (Lithobates capito) •Sometimes calls Breeding Call from beneath water •Deep drawn-out Breeding Season snore or growl •Sounds like a •Early (Feb) woodpecker pecking SVL = 3” Species of Concern Characteristics: (G3, S1) • Dark spots NOT encircled in white, spotted throat • Dorsal lateral folds & sacral humps apparent Gopher Frog Life History in Family Tennessee is Ranidae (Lithobates capito) Unknown EM Distribution: Rarest anuran in Tennessee 1993: Dr. Brian Miller http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Gulf Coastal Plain • Coffee County (Tullahoma) Family American bullfrog Ranidae (Lithobates catesbeianus) Largest frog in Breeding Call Tennessee •loud deep Eat anything "jug-o-rum" can fit in mouth •Often play dead when handled SVL = 5” Breeding Season Characteristics: •Late (June, July) • Green or brown with dorsal lateral folds around tympanum • Males: Tympanum larger than eye 12 Family American bullfrog Ranidae (Lithobates catesbeianus) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern U.S. (introduced western states) • Statewide Family Green frog Ranidae (Lithobates clamitans) Breeding Call •Short, explosive Breeding Season "l"glun k" •LtLate (June, Jl)July) •Banjo string being plucked SVL = 3” •Lower pitch than barking treefrog Characteristics: • Green or brown with dorsal lateral folds extending past tympanum, center of tympanum raised • Males: Tympanum larger than eye Family Green frog Ranidae (Lithobates clamitans) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide 13 Family Pickerel frog Ranidae (Lithobates palustris) Breeding Call •Sounds like opening a •Drawn-out, creaky door ddidescending snore, "yeeeeeoooow" •Not as deep as R. areolata and capito SVL = 2.5” Breeding Season Characteristics: •Early (April) • Tan with dark paired dorsal spots (square) • No white spot on tympanum Family Pickerel frog Prefer cool Ranidae (Lithobates palustris) water
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