(Pseudacris maculata)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure S5 - Secure |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Boreal chorus frog is one of the smallest frogs in Minnesota, ¾″ to 17 ⁄16″long at maturity. Females are larger than males. The body is long and slender. The background color of the upperside is a gradation from a lighter to a darker color; usually tan to brown or reddish-brown, or green to gray. The belly is light brown or cream colored and unmarked. There are three narrow, longitudinal, irregular, stripes of a darker color down the back. The stripes may be more or less broken into a row of spots. Another dark stripe runs from the snout, through the eye, and down the side of the body. The upper lip is white. The male has a dark throat sac. The legs are short relative to the body. The toe pads are tiny. |
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Voice |
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This frog is seldom seen but often heard. The distinctive call of the male is a “prreep” lasting one to two seconds and repeated in one to two seconds. It is often compared to running one’s thumb over the fine teeth of a comb. Use an Ace brand (harder plastic) pocket comb and start in the middle. The result, like the call of the frog, is a slow trill ascending over the entire length of the call. They often sing in large groups, suggesting the common name “chorus frog.” |
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Size |
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¾″ to 17 ⁄16″ |
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Similar Species |
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Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) has dark markings on the back that form a distinctive X shape. |
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Habitat |
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Breeding (March to May): Temporary pools, shallow wetlands, and shallow parts of lakes; always near woodlands. Summer (May to ??): Grasslands and fields near trees, forest edges, urban areas; all with wetlands nearby. |
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Ecology |
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Behavior |
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Males continue to call in June and July, after the breeding season. With their short legs these frogs are not very acrobatic and do not climb well. |
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Lifespan |
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3 to 5 years |
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Life Cycle |
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Adults overwinter, partially frozen, beneath rocks or logs. They emerge in late March or early April, often while snow and ice are still present. Males call to attract females. Breeding begins immediately and is usually complete by June 1. The female lays small round clusters of 20 to 300 eggs, eventually laying up to 2,500 eggs, on submerged plants. The eggs hatch in 3 to 14 days, and tadpoles transform into adults in 50 to 70 days, depending on the temperature of the water. They live 3 to 5 years. |
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Tadpole Food |
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Algae |
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Adult Food |
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Small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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1/6/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common and widespread |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Amphibia (amphibians) | ||
Superorder | Batrachia (amphibians) | ||
Order | Anura (frogs and toads) | ||
Suborder | Neobatrachia | ||
Superfamily | Hyloidea | ||
Family |
Hylidae (tree frogs and allies) | ||
Subfamily |
Hylinae | ||
Genus |
Pseudacris (chorus frogs) | ||
Subfamily Species |
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Synonyms |
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Chorophilus septentrionalis Hyla canadensis Hyla triseriata maculata Hylodes maculatus Pseudacris nigrita septentrionalis |
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Common Names |
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boreal chorus frog |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this amphibian. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Matt Klocke |
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Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this amphibian. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) WisCBMnetwork |
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About
Published on Apr 30, 2012 No description available. |
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Prairie Life: Sounds of Spring Carl Barrentine |
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About
Published on May 7, 2013 Male Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) begin to sing when ambient temperatures finally bump-up beyond the mid-sixties. Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (07 May 2013). Thanks to Laci Prucinsky for making me aware of the species-level taxonomic change for this small anuran! |
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Calling Boreal Chorus Frogs in Northern Ontario Petroglyph100 |
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About
Published on May 7, 2012 Sounds of calling Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) on Lake Superior. May 5, 2012. Town of Marathon, Thunder Bay District (48.73987, -86.39231) |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this amphibian. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Matt Klocke 7/3/2021 |
Location: Ottertail County, MN |
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Bill Reynolds 8/6/2014 |
Location: Pennington Co. MN These little guys are all over my yard lately. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNA Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Lawrence Unit Prairie Creek WMA, Koester Prairie Unit Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve |
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