Southern Cricket Frog
Acris gryllus
Summary 4
The southern cricket frog or southeastern cricket frog (Acris gryllus) is a small hylid frog native to the Southeastern United States. It is very similar in appearance and habits to the northern cricket frog, Acris crepitans, and was considered formerly conspecific (Dickerson 1906). The scientific name Acris is from the Greek word for locust, and the species name gryllus is Latin for cricket (Georgia Wildlife). The average length of the Southern cricket frog is 0.6-1 inch.
The Acris gryllus breeds in the late spring and summer depending on the precipitation. Like the Northern Cricket frog, the Southern cricket frog has a narrow black stripe. This species is found in ponds, bogs, river valleys and river swamps. It is endemic to Virginia.
Physical Description 5
The southern cricket frog is slightly smaller and more slender than the eastern cricket frog. It reaches a length of 16-32 mm with the snout being more pointed, and the hind legs are longer than in the eastern variety. There is less webbing between the toes and the last 3 joints on the 4th or longest toe are free. This species also has a distinct narrow black stripe on the back of its thigh .
Reproduction 5
This species breeds in late spring and summer, anytime between February and October, dependent upon the rains. Male mating call resembles a rattle or metal clicker repeating in rapid succession. Females lay approximately 150 eggs at a time and may lay more than one set per year. Eggs and tadpoles are similar in size and character to those of the eastern cricket frog.
Behavior 5
This species is abundant along grassy margins of semi-permanent ponds, streams, or ditches. It prefers more open-canopied forests of pine-hardwoods, pinelands, gum swamps, and others. It is found mostly in the lowlands of the Coastal Plain including bogs, ponds, and river bottom swamps. It will follow river valleys into more upland areas. Its diet is composed mainly of small insects, spiders, and other arthropods. This species has been shown to possess the ability to orient to stellar patterns or to the moon during migrations. The southern cricket frog has a jumping height of 8 feet. They also have the ability to orient themselves using the moon's movement and star patterns. When in the tadpole stage the species is a herbivore, but as an adult they transition into carnivores that lunge forward and shoot out their tongues.
Lifespan/Longevity 5
The average lifespan of frogs in the genus Acris is about four months due to the numerous fatalities as tadpoles. Those that survive to adulthood may live far at least a year.
Fontes e Créditos
- (c) Patrick Coin, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/42264328@N00/369998549
- (c) cotinis, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcoin/369987909/
- (c) colbyb, todos os direitos reservados
- Adaptado por colbyb de uma obra de (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acris_gryllus
- (c) colbyb, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)
