Spring Peeper - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N5 - Secure
S4 - Apparently Secure
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Spring peeper species is easily identified by a distinctive “X”-shaped mark on its back.
Size
Total length: ¾″ to 1½″
Voice
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), Midwest Region
Frog and Toad Calls
The male mating call is a high-pitched “peep” repeated once per second. Older males call faster than younger males. The sound has been compared to a tiny bell, a baby chick, and a cricket. It can be heard from April through May.
Similar Species
Habitat
Woodlands, woodland edges, ponds, wetlands, and wet meadows.
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
3 to 5 years
Life Cycle
Tadpole Food
Adult Food
Small aquatic and terrestrial insects and other invertebrates.
Distribution
Sources
Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 1/8/2025).
HerpMapper. 2026. HerpMapper - A Global Herp Atlas and Data Hub. Iowa, U.S.A. Available http://www.herpmapper.org. (Accessed: 1/8/2025).
USGS National Amphibian Atlas. https://armi.usgs.gov/atlas/. Accessed 1/8/2025).
Occurrence
Common
Taxonomy
Class
Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order
Anura (Frogs and Toads)
Family
Hylidae (Treefrogs and Allies)
Genus
Pseudacris (Chorus Frogs)
Subfamily
Most sources place the genus Pseudacris in the large subfamily Hylinae, including NCBI, AmphibiaWeb, and Amphibian Species of the World 6.1. ITIS places the genus in the narrowly circumscribed subfamily Acridinae. Wikipedia is inconsistent but on the genus page it lists the subfamily as Acrisinae, and on that subfamily page it lists Acridinae as a synonym.
Genus
This species was formerly placed in the genus Hyla. It was transferred to the genus Pseudacris in 1984 based on allozyme data. Molecular data in 2004 supported the transfer.
Subordinate Taxa
Molecular data in 2004 suggested that the subspecies P. c. crucifer and P. c. bartramiana should no longer be recognized..
Synonyms
Acris pickeringii
Hyla crucifer
Hyla crucifer bartramiana
Hyla crucifer crucifer
Hyla crucifera
Hyla crucifera bartramiana
Hyla crucifera crucifera
Hyla pickeringii
Hyliola pickeringii
Hylodes pickeringii
Parapseudacris crucifer
Pseudacris crucifer bartramiana
Pseudacris crucifer crucifer
Common Names
Northern Spring Peeper
Spring Peeper
