Upland chorus frog

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Upland chorus frog

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Pseudacris
Species:
P. feriarum
Binomial name
Pseudacris feriarum
Baird, 1854
Synonyms

Pseudacris triseriata feriarum

The upland chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) is a species of chorus frog found in the United States. It was recently separated from the Western chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata), being identified as an individual species rather than a subspecies. They are a rarely seen species, but their calls are frequently heard soon after rains in the spring time.[2]

Habitat

Within their range, this species is found in a variety of habitats that include: swampy areas of broad valleys, grassy swales, moist areas of woodlands and borders of heavily vegetated ponds.[3]

Description

Upland chorus frogs are usually brown, grey-brown, or reddish-brown in color, with darker blotching. They grow from 0.75–1.5 inches (1.9–3.8 cm) in size. A white line is present on the head, above the upper lip. Dorsally, there are 3 longitudinal lines which may be complete or broken into spots and a triangular spot on the head usually connects with the middle stripe.[3]

Geographic distribution

Found in the southern and eastern United States, the upland chorus frog is found from the state of New Jersey to the Florida panhandle; west to eastern Texas and southeast Oklahoma. In West Virginia their distribution is limited to the eastern panhandle and Ridge and Valley region where they are very rare and imperiled.[4]

Behavior

Upland Chorus Frog
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Upland chorus frogs are secretive, freeze-tolerant,

Eggs are laid in clusters of 60 or so, and females will lay 197–835 eggs (average 441.314 ± 50.26).[5] Breeding sites are typically small temporary pools and puddles in grassy fields; they do not breed in permanent water.[6] The female can lay upwards of 1,000 eggs at a time. The egg period lasts from 3–17 days, followed by a larval period of 5.1 weeks.[3]

Conservation status

The upland chorus frog is listed as a protected species in the state of New Jersey, primarily due to habitat destruction. Because of its restrictive habitat preferences, this species is declining in several states, particularly in areas where roadside ditches and other ephemeral pools are being drained or destroyed for new developments.

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T55893A118979646.en
    . Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ^
    S2CID 205123385
    .
  3. ^
    ProQuest 304934126
    .
  4. ^ Albaugh, Scott (2008-01-01). "Habitat Comparison of Pseudacris f. feriarum and Pseudacris c. crucifer with Emphasis on Associated Plant Communities and Distribution of Clemmys guttata and Pseudacris f. feriarum in West Virginia". Theses, Dissertations and Capstones.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Joseph A.; Pague, Christopher A. (2014). "FILLING GAPS IN LIFE-HISTORY DATA: CLUTCH SIZES FOR 21 SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN ANURANS" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 9 (3): 495–501.
  6. S2CID 255962312
    .

External links

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