Anurans of VT Flashcards
1
Q
Scientific name of American Toad
A
Anaxyrus americanus
2
Q
Scientific name of the boreal chorus frog
A
Pseudacris maculata
3
Q
Scientific name of Fowler’s Toad
A
Anaxyrus fowleri
4
Q
Scientific name of Gray Treefrog
A
Hyla versicolor
5
Q
Scientific name of American Bullfrog
A
Lithobates catesbeianus
6
Q
Scientific name of Green Frog
A
Lithobates clamitans
7
Q
Scientific name of Pickerel Frog
A
Lithobates palustris
8
Q
Scientific name of Northern Leopard Frog
A
Lithobates pipiens
9
Q
Scientific name of Mink Frog
A
Lithobates septentrionalis
10
Q
Scientific name of Wood Frog
A
Lithobates sylvaticus
11
Q
Scientific name of Spring Peeper
A
Pseudacris crucifer
12
Q
What are the toads family name?
A
Bufonidae
13
Q
Who are included in the toad family?
A
American toad and fowler’s toad
14
Q
What is the life history of the american toad?
A
lays stings of eggs
overwinter underground
15
Q
What is the main diet of all the anurans
A
Tadpoles: algae, detritus
Adults: invertebrates
16
Q
What is the habitat of the American Toad?
A
diggable soil, moist hiding place, forests, gardens, and breed in shallow water
17
Q
Where do american toads breed?
A
breed in shallow water
18
Q
What is the conservation status of the american toad?
A
S5, habitat loss is their greatest issue
19
Q
Where is the american toad found?
A
all over Vermont
20
Q
What are the identifications of the american toad?
A
creme belly with dark splotches
at least one large wart in each one of the large black spots
21
Q
What are the identifications of the Fowler’s Toad?
A
it has a pure white belly with at most one central spot. The Fowler’s Toad has only small warts in the black spots along its back. It measures 2-3 inches long.
22
Q
What is the life history of the folwer toad?
A
lays long strings of eggs
overwinter underground
23
Q
What is the habitat of the Fowler’s Toad?
A
diggable soil, moist hiding places, woodlands, meadows, beaches, disturbed shorelines, breed in shallow water
24
Q
Where are Fowler’s toad found
A
Southern Connecticut River Valley, very rare, bottom right hand corner
25
What is the conservation status of the Fowler toad?
S1, state-endangered as of 2015, invasive species (taking over breeding habitat of the toad)
26
What are the green faced frogs?
american bullfrog, green frog, and the mink frog
27
What is the family of the green faced frogs?
Ranidae
28
How do you identify the american bullfrog?
It usually has a green and brown mottled body with dark stripes across its legs. Colors vary from almost pure green to pure brown with largely varying degrees of mottling as well. The American Bullfrog does not have dorsolateral ridges (folds of skin on either side of its back), but it does have a ridge that starts at the eye and goes around the eardrum (tympana) and down.
29
What is the life history of the american bullfrog?
polygynous, large, flat egg masses (20,000-40,000 egs)
tadpoles for 1-2 years
30
What is special about the diet of bullfrogs?
will eat smaller frogs, fish, mice, snails, and invertebrates
31
What is the habitat of the american bullfrog?
large, permanent bodies of water
emergent vegetation
ambush locations
lowlands
32
Where is the american bullfrog found?
everywhere in vermont except the mountain range.
33
What is the conservation status of the american bullfrog?
S5
34
What are the field identifications of the green frog?
It is quite variable in color and pattern. Its body is a mottled green and brown with a green upper lip, folds of skin on each side of the back (dorsolateral ridges), and stripes (often broken) across its legs
35
What is the life history of the green frog?
egg masses sometimes merge
aquatic brumation
tadpoles for up to 22 months
36
What is the habitat of the green frog?
permanent water
emergent vegetation
shoreline hunters (quick water escape)
37
Where are green frogs found?
everywhere in vermont
38
What is the conservation status of the green frog
S5, habitat degradation, pollution, disease
39
What is the field identification of the mink frog?
may or may not have dorsolateral ridges (folds of skin on each side of its back). The Mink Frog has dark oval spots oriented along the axis of its legs, unlike the Green Frog and the American Bullfrog, which have stripes perpendicular to the axis of their legs.
40
What is the life history of the mink frog?
breed in permanent water
globular egg masses
masses attached to vegetation (usually on the benthos)
41
What is the habitat of the mink frog?
sill, permanent, cold bodies of water
primarily aquatic
emergent vegetation
42
Where are mink frogs found?
found in the top right hand of vermont, frogs of the north
43
What is the conservation status of the mink frog?
S3 (uncommon)
habitat loss, climate change
44
What are the spotted frogs of vermont?
Northern leopard frog and pickerel frog
45
What is the family name for spotted frogs?
Ranidae
46
What are the identification of northern leopard frog?
The Northern Leopard Frog is 2-3½ inches long and has randomly distributed black spots on its back, sides, and legs. Each spot is surrounded by a light halo. The background colors of the frog can range from gold to green. Its gold or brown dorsolateral ridges often stand out in contrast. Its belly is white with no other markings, unlike the Pickerel Frog that has yellow under its legs and around its waist.
47
What is the life history of the northern leopard frog?
most breed in ponds
large communal egg masses attached to submerged vegetation
brumate underwater
48
What is the habitat of the northern leopard frog?
three habitat frog:
permanent water: overwintering
floodplains and marshes: breeding
wet meadows and fields: foraging
49
Where are northern leopard frogs found?
along the coast of lake champlain, and some of the north
50
What is the conservation status of the northern leopard frog?
S4 (relatively common)
habitat loss
collection/harvest
51
What are the identification marks of the pickerel frog?
The Pickerel Frog looks somewhat similar to the Northern Leopard Frog; however the Pickerel Frog is always brown (leopard frogs can be green or brown), spots on its back are somewhat rectangular, outlined in black, and tend to be organized in two rows. Sometimes the spots fuse to form bands. Pickerel Frogs measure 1½-3 inches long. They have prominent dorsolateral ridges, a white chest and belly, but a yellow “waistcoat” and yellow down the insides of its legs. Their yellow and brown eggs form a dense mass.
52
What is the life history of the pickerel frog?
breed in cool water, temporary and permanent
cryptic overwintering in VT (known to burrow or seek caves)
53
What is special about pickerel frogs?
skin irritant to humans
54
What is the habitat of the pickerel frog?
upland areas with dense vegetation
cooler temporary or permanent water
often beaver ponds or upland reservoirs
55
Where are pickerel frogs found?
all over Vermont except top right hand corner and mid left.
56
What is the conservation status of the pickerel frogs?
S5, habitat loss, disease
57
What are the field identification traits of the wood frog?
The Wood Frog is a medium-sized frog that measures about 1-2¾ inches long. It is brown with dorsolateral ridges (folds of skin in either side of its back) and a black mask behind its eyes. Also look for the black “backpack straps” on the front of each shoulder. Like the Spring Peeper, its colors vary with temperature and gender; female Wood Frogs are often larger and redder. Young Wood Frogs are often mistaken for Spring Peepers. Be sure to check for the dorsolateral ridges and backpack straps.
58
What are the life history traits of the wood frog?
earliest spring breeders!
frogsicle overwintering
59
What is the family name of the wood frog?
Ranidae
60
What is the habitat of the wood frog?
boreal and temperate forests and wetlands
vernal pool breeder
small permanent -- semi-permanent bodies of water
61
Where are wood frogs found
all over vermont
62
What is the conservation status of woodfrogs?
S5
habitat loss and agriculture
63
What are the tree frogs of vermont
gray tree frog, spring peeper, boreal chorus frog
64
What is the family name of the tree frogs?
Hylidae
65
What is the life history of the gray treefrog?
breeding occurs in slow-still water w/ vegetation
egg masses are flat on/near surface
frogsicles brumate under cover objects
66
What is special about gray tree frogs diet?
they are considered cannibals
67
What is the habitat of the gray treefrog?
moist deciduous woodlands/swamps near water
68
Where are gray treefrogs found?
all over vermont except in the mountains
69
What is the conservation status of gray treefrogs?
S5
habitat loss and pollutants
70
What is the identifying marks of a gray treefrog?
the Gray Treefrog measures from 2-2.5 inches. Adult Gray Treefrogs have a gray lichen-like pattern on their skin with a light patch under the eyes, and no dorsolateral ridges (no folds of skin on either side of its back). Recently metamorphosed (just changed from a tadpole) Gray Treefrogs are bright emerald green with smooth skin. The Gray Treefrog has larger adhesive toe pads than the Spring Peeper and is an excellent climber.
71
What is the identifying marks of a spring peeper?
The Spring Peeper is one of Vermont’s smallest frogs. Adults are generally 1-1½ inches long. The Spring Peeper has no dorsolateral ridges (folds of skin on either side of its back). It has dark markings on its back that usually form an “X”, and small adhesive discs on its toes. Spring Peepers vary in color from light to dark brown. Adult males are generally smaller than the adult females, and breeding males have black throats and swollen thumbs.
72
What is the identifying marks of a boreal chorus frog?
The Boreal Chorus Frog is very similar in size and pattern to the Spring Peeper; however, it is brown with three dark longitudinal stripes or rows of spots along its back, in contrast to the Spring Peeper’s dark “X”. Boreal Chorus Frogs have a slight black mask, a white upper lip, and they do not have dorsolateral ridges. They only measure about 1 inch long.
73
What is the life history of the spring peeper?
eggs attached to vegetation in small ponds
freeze-tolerant -- brumate under logs
74
What is the habitat of the spring peeper?
moist wooded area or grasslands near water
cover objects
vernal pool or small pond breeder
75
Where are spring peepers found?
literally everywhere in Vermont
76
What is the conservation status of the spring peeper?
S5, habitat loss, disease
77
What is the life history of the boreal chorus frog?
breed in shallow, standing water
clusters of 20-300 attached to vegetation
frogsicles brumate in burrows beneath logs/rocks or in deep ?
78
What is the habitat of the boreal chorus frog?
wet grassy/marshy areas or damp forests near heavily vegetated bodies of water
79
Where are boreal chorus frogs found
top left hand corner of vermont
80
What is the conservation status of the boreal chorus frog?
S1 (super rare)
endangered and of greatest conservation need in Vermont
81
What is the distribution of the American Bullfrog
82
What is the distribution American toad?
83
What is the distribution of the Boreal Chorus Frog?
84
What is the distribution of the Fowler's Toad?
85
What is the distribution of the Gray Treefrog?
86
What is the distribution of the Green Frog?
87
What is the distribution of the Mink Frog?
88
What is the distribution of the Northern Leopard Frog?
89
What is the distribution of the Pickerel Frog?
90
What is the distribution of Spring Peeper?
91
What is the distribution of the Wood Frog?
