Spring Peeper
Family:
Hylidae (treefrogs and allies) in the order Anura (frogs)
Description:
This small, slender frog can be pink, gray, tan or light brown and has a dark X on its back. This mark can be faint in light-colored frogs and dark on darker ones. A dark line runs across the top of the head between the eyes, and there are dark bars on the legs. The belly is a plain cream color. The finger- and toetips have adhesive pads. The high-pitched, peeping call, repeated about once a second, can be heard on warm spring nights and also during the day in early summer and fall.
Size:
Length: 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches.
Habitat and conservation:
This woodland species lives near ponds, streams and swamps where there is thick undergrowth. Breeding occurs in fishless woodland ponds, temporary pools, water-filled ditches or semipermanent, fishless swamps, especially if brush, branches and rooted plants are standing in the water.
Foods:
Spring peepers eat a variety of small insects and spiders.
Distribution in Missouri:
Nearly statewide, but not found in northwestern Missouri.
Status:
Common in Missouri; this species needs access to ephemeral, swampy ponds and pools in woodlands and has become threatened in states where wetland habitat has shrunk.
Life cycle:
These frogs are active from late winter to late fall; breeding is in late February to mid-May in small woodland pools. Males call from water’s edge or from objects emerging from the water. The female lays up to 900 eggs; these are fertilized by the male as they are laid. The eggs are laid singly, attached to vegetation in shallow water, and hatch in 3–4 days. Tadpoles metamorphose 2 months later. This frog overwinters in the soil; a natural “antifreeze” in their blood keeps them from freezing.
Human connections:
One of the first species to begin calling in the spring, this amphibian’s peeping, jingling choruses are greeted as a true harbinger for the new season.
Ecosystem connections:
Tadpoles may be eaten by salamander larvae, and adults are eaten by various predators, including predaceous diving beetles and giant water bugs. Spring peepers help control populations of the insects on which they feed. MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.
Shortened URL
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/3067
