Northern Cricket Frog

Acris crepitans

The Northern Cricket Frog is a small, lively frog that loves to hop around. It has a unique sound that sounds like a cricket, which is how it got its name!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Northern Cricket Frog is a small amphibian, typically gray, brown, or green, often with a dark triangle between its eyes. It has a warty skin texture and a pointed snout, which helps it blend into its marshy environment.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyHylidaeGenusAcris

Northern Cricket Frog

Interesting facts

Did you know a group of frogs is actually called an "army"?

It is one of the smallest frogs in all of North America!

Their loud calls can be heard over a mile away, even from tiny frogs!

These frogs lay their tiny eggs one by one on underwater plants.

Special abilities

Northern Cricket Frog has special skin cells that allow it to subtly change color, helping it perfectly disappear into its environment.

Northern Cricket Frog can make a clicking call that sounds like crickets, which helps male frogs attract a mate from far away.

Northern Cricket Frog has a long, sticky tongue that helps it quickly snatch flying insects right out of the air.

Measurements & details

Length: 1.5-3.8 cm
Weight: 0.001-0.005 kg
Lifespan: 1-4 years
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Clutch Size: 150-2000
Metamorphosis: 60-120 days

Diet & Feeding

These tiny frogs are expert hunters, feasting on small insects and other invertebrates they catch.

Age differences: Tadpoles eat algae; adults switch to insects.

Primary Foods

flies
mosquitoes
small crickets
spiders
ants

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

A larger frog predator in its habitat.

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Often hunts near water bodies where frogs live.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Wades in shallow water, preying on small aquatic life.

eats

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

A common flying insect, part of its main diet.

Traits

Solitary

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

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.

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.