Anuran Families. Morphological Characteristics. Identification of Tennessee Anurans. Order Anura. Matthew J. Gray

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1 Identification of Tennessee Anurans Hyla versicolor Matthew J. Gray College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Tennessee-Knoxville Suborder Mesobatrachia Anuran Families Bufonidae Scaphiopodidae Microhylidae 2 1 Order Anura Suborder Neobatrachia 1 True Toads American Spadefoots Narrow-mouthed Toads 10 7 Tree Frogs True Frogs Morphological Characteristics, Bufonidae Glanular glands 1

2 Bufonidae American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) Eggs: 1-2 strings (4,000-12,000 eggs) >10 m length Long, musical trill (constant) SVL = 3 Early (March) Parotoid glands rarely touch cranial crest 1-2 glanular glands warts per dark spot Bufonidae American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) Eastern United States Bufonidae Fowler s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) Eggs: 1-2 strings (5,000-10,000 eggs) <3 m length SVL = 2.5 Nasal "w-a-a-h" Sheep bleating or baby crying Mid (May) Parotoid glands touch cranial crest >3 glanular glands warts per dark spot 2

3 Bufonidae Fowler s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) Eastern United States Scaphiopodidae Eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) T-storms SVL = 2 Metatarsal tubercle Nasal grunts: wahh, wahh, wahh Young crow Late (June,July) Vertical Pupil Glanular glands but no parotoid glands (heavy rain) Scaphiopodidae Eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) Xeric Adapted Genera Southeastern United States (rare, Smokies) 3

4 Microhylidae Eastern narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) T-storms SVL = 1 High pitch buzz bzzzzzz Insect wings Late (June, July) Pointed snout, short limbs, plump body Folded skin between eyes (heavy rain) Microhylidae Eastern narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) Southeastern United States (rare Smokies) Northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) Acris = locust crepitans = clattering Metallic clicking (2 metal balls) Tempo changes: (slow-fast-slow) Mid (May) SVL = <1 Dark triangle between eyes; often bright Y racing stripe >1/2 of longest toe on rear feet webbed 4

5 Northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) Midwest and Eastern U.S. Southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus) Acris = locust gryllus = cricket Metallic clicking (2 metal balls) Raspier, shorter Tempo constant Late (June, July) SVL = <1 Dark triangle between eyes; often bright Y racing stripe (more distinct line than A. crepitans) <1/2 of longest toe on rear feet webbed Southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus) Deep Southern U.S. Southwest TN 5

6 Bird-voiced treefrog (Hyla avivoca) Bird-like Chirping Whistling for dog Mid (May, June) SVL = 1.5 Coloration can be highly variable! Light green or gray with light-colored patch under eye No flash colors like gray treefrogs Bird-voiced treefrog (Hyla avivoca) Primarily MAV Western TN Green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) Short nasal repeating "quonk" Bicycle horn Late (June, July) SVL = 2 Always green, smooth back and belly White-yellow stripe extending from upper lip mid-laterally 6

7 Green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) Southeastern United States Western TN but expanding into East TN! Short raspy trill (constant) Faster than H. versicolor pulses/sec Cope s Gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) ½ chromosomes of H. versicolor Mid (May, June) SVL = 2 Gray to greenish with mottled back Yellow-orange flash colors under legs Cope s Gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Eastern United States 7

8 Barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) Steady raspy honk Sounds similar to a beagle bark or Canada goose Higher pitch than green frog SVL = 2-3 Late (June, July) Largest of the treefrogs in Tennessee Solid green (granulated) or green with dark spots White upper lip does not extend mid-laterally Barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) Deep Southern U.S. West TN & Cumberland Plateau Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) Clear Distinct Peep Cross bearer SVL = 1 Early (Feb, March) Light-brown, smooth skin with dark line between eyes Dark cross on back 8

9 Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) Eastern United States Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) Short, raspy call that rises in pitch Running finger over comb but duller than P. feriarum SVL = 1 Early (April) 1/3 size of a wood frog Light-brown, smooth skin with dark line through eye Backward parentheses on back (sometimes) Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) Forested wetlands >1000 m elevation Southern Appalachia Mostly Cumberland Mountains and Plateau 9

10 Upland (southeastern) Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) Running finger over comb but more metallic than P. brachyphona SVL = 1 Note: call rises (gray treefrogs do not) Earliest breeding frog Early (January) Light to dark brown with dark triangle between eyes Three dark dorsal lines (usually) Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) Southeastern United States Chorus Frog Distributions Spotted Chorus Frog (P. clarkii) 10

11 Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus) Deep "Waaaaa" Sounds like someone snoring SVL = 2.5 Early (March) Dark spots encircled in white, white throat Dorsal lateral folds very apparent Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus) Mississippi Alluvial Valley West Tennessee American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) loud deep "jug-o-rum" Often play dead when handled SVL = 5 Largest frog in Tennessee Late (June, July) Green or brown with dorsal lateral folds around tympanum Males: Tympanum larger than eye 11

12 American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Eastern U.S. (introduced western states) Green frog (Lithobates clamitans) Short, explosive "glunk" Banjo string being plucked SVL = 3 Lower pitch than barking treefrog Late (June, July) Green or brown with dorsal lateral folds extending past tympanum, center of tympanum raised Males: Tympanum larger than eye Green frog (Lithobates clamitans) Eastern United States 12

13 Pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) Drawn-out, descending snore, "yeeeeeoooow" Not as deep as L. areolatus SVL = 2.5 Early (April) Sounds like opening a creaky door Tan with dark paired dorsal spots (square) No white spot on tympanum Pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) Eastern United States (excluding Gulf Coast) (less common in west TN) Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) Series of clucks or chuckles Also, groans similar to rubbing hand over a balloon SVL = 2.5 Early (Feb, March) Tan with dark dorsal spots in irregular pattern White spot on tympanum 13

14 Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) Southeastern U.S. (not common in Smokies) Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) Series of clucks or chuckles (mallard) Interspersed with low grunts SVL = 2 Bi-colored Embryos Black (above), white (below) Forested wetlands often before ice is gone Early (February) Tan dark mask below and behind eye White upper lip Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) Northeastern U.S. Middle & East TN 14

15 January: upland chorus frog Seasonal Phenology Tennessee Anurans February: wood frog, spring peeper, gopher frog March: American toad, southern leopard frog, crawfish frog April: pickerel frog, mountain chorus frog May: Fowler s toad, northern cricket frog, gray treefrogs, bird-voiced treefrog June/July: green frog, American bullfrog, southern cricket frog, eastern narrow-mouthed toad, eastern spadefoot, barking treefrog, green treefrog August-Dec: possible to hear most species especially after rains and on warm days in fall and winter, although breeding for temperate anurans is concentrated January-July. CALL SURVEYS Begin: > 30 minutes after sunset (allow 5 min settling time) End: 1:00 am Duration: 5 minutes Abundance (by species): 0 = none heard 1 = individuals can be counted 2 = calls overlap but individuals can be distinguished 3 = calls overlap and individuals cannot be distinguished (full chorus) Citations and Helpful Websites Identification Texts Niemiller, M., and R. G. Reynolds The amphibians of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN. Dodd, C. K. Jr The amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN, USA. Dorcas, M., and W. Gibbons Frogs and toads of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA, USA. Pictures and Calls LEAPS-Environmental Consulting Dr. Matt Niemiller (Frogs and Toads of TN) Frog and Toads of Georgia 15

16 HERPETOFAUNAL ATLASES OF TN Amphibians: Reptiles: #1 #2 16

17 #3 #4 #5 17

18 #6 #7 #8 18

19 #9 #10 19