Boreal Chorus Frog

Pseudacris maculata

The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small, greenish-brown frog that loves to sing! They are often found near water and have a special call that sounds like a tiny bird chirping.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small, slender amphibian, typically brown, tan, or gray with three dark stripes down its back, which can sometimes be broken into spots. It has a dark stripe running from its snout through its eye to its shoulder, and a distinctive light-colored upper lip.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyHylidaeGenusPseudacris

Boreal Chorus Frog

Interesting facts

Baby tadpoles munch on algae, but adult frogs switch to eating only insects!

Even though they're small, Boreal Chorus Frogs are super-powered insect hunters!

These tiny frogs have sticky toe pads that help them climb up plants and reeds!

You'll often hear their chorus calls before you ever spot one hiding in the grass!

Special abilities

Boreal Chorus Frogs can change skin color to blend with surroundings, helping them hide from predators.

Boreal Chorus Frogs have a loud, distinctive 'cree-ee-ee-eek' call that helps them attract mates.

Boreal Chorus Frogs can jump many times their body length very quickly, helping them escape danger or catch prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 1.9-3.8 cm
Weight: 0.002-0.005 kg
Lifespan: 1-3 years
Top Speed: 8 km/h
Clutch Size: 500-1500
Metamorphosis: 40-90 days

Diet & Feeding

These tiny frogs are bug-eating machines, feasting on small insects and spiders!

Age differences: Tadpoles eat algae and plant matter, while adult frogs are carnivores that eat insects.

Primary Foods

Mosquitoes
Flies
Ants
Beetles
Small spiders

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Common predator in their wetland habitats.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Larger frogs sometimes prey on smaller species.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Wading birds hunt these frogs in shallow water.

hunts

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Helps control mosquito populations in their ecosystem.

Traits

Spotted

Marked with spots or patches of a different color.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Insectivorous

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

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

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.