Appalachian mountain chorus frog

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Appalachian mountain chorus frog
Mountain Chorus Frog imported from iNaturalist photo 123959030 on 8 December 2021.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Pseudacris
Species:
P. brachyphona
Binomial name
Pseudacris brachyphona
(Cope, 1889)
Synonyms [2]
  • Chorophilus feriarum subsp. brachyphonusCope, 1889
  • Hyla brachyphona(Cope, 1889)

The Appalachianmountain chorus frog (Pseudacris brachyphona), [3] formerly known as just the mountain chorus frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. The species is endemic to the United States. The natural habitats of P. brachyphona are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, ponds, open excavations, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Taxonomy

The Collinses' mountain chorus frog (Pseudacris collinsorum), which ranges from southwestern North Carolina/southeastern Tennessee south to most of Alabama aside from the north and west to northeastern Mississippi, was formerly thought to represent a population of P. brachyphona, but was described as a distinct species in 2020. The description of this species led P. brachyphona to be renamed the Appalachian mountain chorus frog. [3]

Mountain chorus frogs are part of the family Hylidae, also known as the tree frogs. Tree frogs are one of the largest families in the order Salientia (also called Anura). Because they are so colorful and have many acrobatic talents, they have been called the "clowns and high-wire artists" of the amphibian world. The almost 500 species of tree frogs are found all over the world, from tropical regions to the Canadian woods, and Australia. They are found in places where toads are usually found.

Physical characteristics

The Appalachian mountain chorus frog is a small frog, but an intermediate size for the genus Pseudacris . It is colored different shades of grey or brown, including sorghum brown, deep brownish-drab, or mars brown. It is stocky in the body and broader in the head, which is very close to the structure and size of H. femoralis, the pine woods tree frog. The adult frog grows from 1.0 to 1.4 in (25 to 36 mm) in head and body length. The males are usually between 24 and 32 millimetres (0.94 and 1.26 in) and the females between 27 and 34 millimetres (1.1 and 1.3 in). The Appalachian mountain chorus frog has a triangle between the eyes and a white line on the upper lip; the male has a dark throat.

Geographic range and habitat

The Appalachian mountain chorus frog can usually be found on the hillsides of southwestern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, southeastern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, eastern Tennessee, and northern Alabama north of the Tennessee River. They live on springy hillsides, grassy pools, and ditches, typically distant from water. The wooded hillsides where the frogs live are up to 3,500 feet (1,100 m) in elevation.

Vocalization

The Appalachian mountain chorus frog has a unique call. It is a faster, higher note, and holds a distinct quality and form. The repetitions are quicker and the pitch higher. It resembles the call of the Pacific chorus frog rather closely but is less clearly two syllabled. When a whole chorus of them are heard, one can tell them apart from other groups. The Appalachian mountain chorus frog's call has a rate of 50 to 70 times a minute and can be continued for several minutes, though they usually stop in 15 to 20 seconds. This distinct call is rapid and can be heard on a clear night up to a quarter mile away. [4] Their voice has a bit of a nasal quality to it and sounds like a wagon wheel turning that needs oil. It is a harsh, raspy "wreeck" or "reek" sound. [5] The Collinses' mountain chorus frog has a similar call but with a faster pulse rate. [3]

Breeding

The Appalachian mountain chorus frog breeds in February through April. The female lays eggs in small, shallow bodies of water in the woods or waterways near the woods. If the frog lives near the base of a hill, it will lay eggs in ditches, pools along streams, or springs. The eggs are laid in groups of 10 to 50. They attach to vegetation and total about 500 eggs. The tadpole stage lasts for about 50 to 56 days. Once the tadpoles reach 8 mm, they metamorphose into frogs.

Food

Appalachian mountain chorus frogs feed on invertebrates, such as insects, because they do not climb much,[ citation needed ] and if they do, it is into the weeds to pursue insects.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring peeper</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylidae</span> Family of frogs

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Pacific tree frog, also known as the Pacific chorus frog, has a range spanning the Pacific Northwest, from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington to British Columbia in Canada and extreme southern Alaska. They live from sea level to more than 10,000 feet in many types of habitats, reproducing in aquatic settings. They occur in shades of greens or browns and can change colors over periods of hours and weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern toad</span> Species of amphibian

The southern toad is a true toad native to the southeastern United States, from eastern Louisiana and southeastern Virginia south to Florida. It often lives in areas with sandy soils. It is nocturnal and spends the day in a burrow. Its coloring is usually brown but can be red, gray, or black. It is approximately 8 cm (3 inches) long.

<i>Gastrophryne carolinensis</i> Species of amphibian

Gastrophryne carolinensis, the eastern narrow-mouthed toad, is a species of microhylid frog. It is a relatively small, toad-like amphibian found in damp, shady habitats. The species is highly fossorial, and feeds primarily on ants. These North American microhylids are distinguished from true toads, and other anurans by their moist, smooth skin, their lack of eardrums or tympana, their distinguishable squat body shape, and the unique fold of skin superior to their eyes. It is found in the United States, from southern Maryland to the Florida Keys, west to Missouri and Texas. While not a true toad, it is so called because it is terrestrial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western chorus frog</span> Species of amphibian

The western chorus frog, also known as striped chorus frog, or midland chorus frog is a species of frog found in Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upland chorus frog</span> Species of amphibian

The upland chorus frog is a species of chorus frog found in the United States. It was recently separated from the Western chorus frog,, being identified as an individual species rather than a subspecies. They are a rarely seen species, but their calls are frequently heard soon after rains in the spring time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little grass frog</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak toad</span> Species of amphibian

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<i>Dendropsophus ebraccatus</i> Species of amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus, also known as the hourglass treefrog, referring to the golden-brown hourglass shape seen surrounded by skin yellow on its back. Their underbellies are yellow. Their arms and lower legs usually display bold patterns while their upper legs or thighs are light yellow giving them the appearance of wearing no pants. The species name "ebraccata" translates to "without trousers" in Latin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine woods tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brimley's chorus frog</span> Species of amphibian

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The Sierran chorus frog or Sierran treefrog is native to the state of California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana. It has a range from the West Coast of the United States from Central California inland through Idaho. They can live at sea level, but also up to more than 10,000 feet utilizing trees, ponds, grasslands, farmlands, meadows, and lakes as habitats. These frogs, alike other, reproduce in aquatic settings. They occur in shades of greens or browns and can change colors over periods of hours and weeks. These colors help them easily blend into the background and hard for the eye to catch.

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The Collinses' mountain chorus frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to hilly regions of the southeastern United States.

References

Notes
  1. Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). "Pseudacris brachyphona". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T55888A11372613. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55888A11372613.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. "Pseudacris brachyphona (Cope, 1889)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Ospina, Oscar E.; Tieu, Lynee; Apodaca, Joseph J.; Lemmon, Emily Moriarty (December 4, 2020). "Hidden Diversity in the Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) and the Diagnosis of a New Species of Chorus Frog in the Southeastern United States". Copeia. 108 (4): 778–795. doi: 10.1643/CH2020009 . ISSN   0045-8511.
  4. Wright & Wright, pp. 230–231.
  5. "Frog Friday: The Mountain Chorus Frog" . Retrieved 2021-12-08.
Bibliography

Further reading

Cope ED. 1889. "The Batrachia of North America". Bull. United States. Nat. Mus.34: 1-525. (Chorophilus feriarum brachyphonus, new subspecies, p. 341).