Identification of Tennessee Anurans Hyla versicolor Anuran Families 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 (Bufo 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 (Bufo americanus) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide Family Fowler’s toad Bufonidae (Bufo fowleri) Eggs: 1-2 strings (5,000-10,000 eggs) <3 m length Breeding Call • Nasal "w-a-a-h" • Sheep bleating 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 (Bufo 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 parotoids not prominent 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 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: 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. chrysoscelis • 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 (G5, S3) (Hyla gratiosa) Distribution: F http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Deep Southern U.S. Males often • West TN & call from Cumberland Plateau water 8 Family Spring Peeper Hylidae (Pseudacris crucifer) Breeding Call • Clear Distinct Peep Breeding Season • Early (Feb, March) “Cross bearer” Prefers SVL = 1” Characteristics: woodland pools • Light-brown, smooth skin with dark line between eyes • Dark cross on back Family Spring Peeper Hylidae (Pseudacris crucifer) Distribution: F/EM-S http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide Family Mountain Chorus Frog Hylidae (Pseudacris brachyphona) Breeding Call • Short, raspy call that Breeding Season rises in pitch • Running finger • Early (April) over comb but duller than P. feriarum 1/3 size of a SVL = 1” Characteristics: 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 comb but 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-S 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 (Rana areolata) Lives in crayfish 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 crayfish and Ranidae (Rana areolata) small amphibians. Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Mississippi Alluvial Valley • West Tennessee 11 Family Gopher Frog Ranidae (Rana 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 Life History in Family Gopher Frog Tennessee is Ranidae (Rana 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 (Rana catesbeiana) 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 (Rana catesbeiana) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern U.S. (introduced western states) • Statewide Family Green frog Ranidae (Rana clamitans) Breeding Call • Short, explosive Breeding Season "glunk" • Late (June, 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 (Rana clamitans) Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States • Statewide 13 Family Pickerel frog Ranidae (Rana palustris) Breeding Call • Sounds like opening a • Drawn-out, creaky door descending 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 (Rana palustris) water with high Ranidae water quality Distribution: EM http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ • Eastern United States (excluding Gulf Coast) • Statewide (less common in west TN) Family Southern