American Water Frogs

Lithobates

American Water Frogs are big, green frogs that love to live near water. They can jump really far and make a loud croaking sound, especially during the night!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The American Water Frogs have smooth, moist skin, often green, olive, or brownish, with a pale belly. They are characterized by their large eardrums (tympanum) and may have distinct dorsolateral folds running down their back.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyRanidaeGenusLithobates

American Water Frogs

Interesting facts

A frog's eyes help them swallow; they pull them into their head to push food down!

Frogs don't drink water; they absorb it through special patches on their skin!

Male water frogs create loud croaking choruses to attract mates that can be heard far away!

Some tadpoles can take up to three years to transform into frogs!

Special abilities

American Water Frogs can leap over ten times their body length to escape danger because of their powerful hind legs.

American Water Frogs can breathe through their skin underwater because it is permeable and covered in tiny blood vessels.

American Water Frogs has a super sticky, projectile tongue that helps them snatch unsuspecting insects and other small prey.

American Water Frogs can blend into their surroundings because their skin color and pattern perfectly mimic aquatic vegetation.

Measurements & details

Length: 7-20 cm
Weight: 0.05-0.6 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Clutch Size: 2000-20000
Metamorphosis: 60-700 days

Diet & Feeding

These frogs eat almost anything they can fit in their mouth, from insects to small mammals!

Age differences: Tadpoles are mostly herbivorous, feeding on algae, while adult frogs are exclusively carnivorous.

Primary Foods

insects
spiders
snails
small fish
other frogs
small mammals

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Large birds hunt frogs near the water's edge.

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Snakes are common predators, ambushing frogs on land or in water.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Nocturnal mammals often forage for frogs along shorelines.

hunts

Green Darner

Anax junius

Adult frogs prey on large flying insects like dragonflies.

hunts

Common Water Strider

Aquarius remigis

Frogs ambush water insects that skim the surface of ponds.

Traits

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.