Green frog

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Green Frog

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ranidae
Genus:	Lithobates
Species:	L. clamitans

Binomial name

Lithobates clamitans
(Latreille, 1801)

Synonyms

Rana clamitans

"Green frog" may also refer to the Edible Frog (Rana esculenta) or the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea)

The Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans^[1]^[2], previously Rana clamitans^[3]) is a species of frog native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada.

1 Description
2 Behavior
3 Mating
4 Diet
5 Lifespan
6 As Pets
7 Handle
8 Conservation Status
9 Body Structure
10 Subspecies
11 Triva
12 Gallery

[edit] Description

The Green Frog ranges from 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in size, with the male having a large prominent tympanum and a yellow throat in contrast to the female's white throat and smaller eardrum. Dorsolateral ridges are prominent in contrast to the Bullfrog whose dorsolateral ridges are absent. Contrary to its name, it can be found in various colors (bronze, brown, and light green) depending on its habitat region. Some rare individuals are being blue.

[edit] Behavior

The Green Frog lives in and near shallow water - springs, brooks, swamps, ponds and lakes which have a considerable amount of vegetation. They seem to tolerate ponds of urban areas. This frog is primarily nocturnal and is not as wary as many other species of frog. Fleet of foot and difficult to spot, this frog is often noted only indirectly as it flees into the water. Adult males are mostly easily approached during the breeding season when defending their territories. They rarely scream in alarm when captured. Green frogs are strongly aquatic, both as adults and in tadpole stage. Males defend their territories and may have a wrestling matches with other males that invade their territory.Green frogs are active during day and night. They become dormant during cold weather. Green frogs are mainly solitary, except during breeding season, when they congregate at breeding ponds.

[edit] Mating

Green frogs breed in semi-permanent or permanent freshwater habitats of various size and vegetation structure. The call is often compared to the twang of a banjo string, usually given as a single note, but sometimes repeated rapidly several times to designate its territory. Its breeding season is from March to August. Breeding takes place in late spring; variations in temperature and region can influence actual breeding times. Once a female has chosen a male, amplexus will begin. During amplexus, 1000 to 7000 eggs may be laid. Eggs are laid in 3-4 small clutches that are attached to submerged vegetation. Green frog tadpoles are olive green and iridescent creamy-white below. Metamorphosis can occur within the same breeding season or some tadpoles overwinter for one year depending on when eggs were laid. After larvae stage, males are sexually active 1 year after metamorphosis and females may mature in either 2 or 3 years depending on their sex.

[edit] Diet

Green frogs will consume anything that can fit in it's mouth, such as crickets, flies, fish, crayfish, shrimp, grasshoppers, small frogs, tadpoles, small snakes, birds, mollusks, moths, and their own cast skin. Tadpoles consume algae and water plants.

[edit] Lifespan

Frogs in captivity live be 10 years old. It unknown of the average lifespan in the wild.

[edit] As Pets

Green frogs make great pets for beginners, but most pet stores don't sell them due to be native to the state, which the pet traders take them out their habitat and sell them for money. One frog needs 10-gallon aquarium, semi-aquatic 1/2 inch of water, 1/2 inch of land. Aquarium needs to be humid with a couple of plant material. For a terrestrial aquarium 2 inches of soil and a water dish to climb in it and live plant material. Frogs need to be feed once a week its eats 3-4 crickets a day. Tadpoles are very sensative to contaminated water, water must be distilled. They consume fish flakes, steam vegetables(except celery), raw ground beef, and turtle pellets.

[edit] Handle

The frog is very hardy, if its untamed. Hands must be wet before handled, like moist amphibians, they breath through their skin.

[edit] Conservation Status

The current consensus among biologists is that Green frogs do not seem to have as much of an impact on a native frog species as Bullfrogs do. Green frogs are smaller and less aggressive than bullfrogs. However, Green frogs do not compete with native frogs for food and habitat, and there is a risk that this extra pressure may be final straw for some native populations. Some of the frog's population could be down because the loss of natural shoreline vegetation. Green frogs are protected by the law in some states due to being native to it.

[edit] Body Structure

The Green Frog has long, powerful hind legs which make it an excellent leaper. The lungs are where oxygen flows into the blood and where carbon dioxide is released into the air. The skin is very smooth and moist. It absorbs some oxygen through the skin. The Green Frog has a 3-chambered heart like all amphibians. The mouth has teeth and nostril openings and the frog's tongue is attached at the front of its mouth. The Green Frog's large eyes give it excellent vision and allow it to see predators while it floats in the water.