Western Chorus Frog

Adults: A small frog (1.9--3.8 cm) with a distinctive light stripe along the upper lip bordered by a dark stripe running through the eye from snout to groin, forming a dark mask. The background color is brown, gray, or greenish, usually with three dorsal stripes running virtually the length of the body. Like other members of this genus, the webbing on the toes is reduced or absent.

Distribution: Present in midwest with WNY and NW PA being the northeastern most extent of its range.

Habitat: Found in marshes, prairies, agricultural fields, and other open habitats, and occasionally in woods and forested swamps. Essentially a prairie animal that is tolerant of agriculture and thrives in intensively-farmed landscapes.

Ecology: Seldom seen except during the breeding season, but can be found on the ground or under rocks, logs, leaf litter, or other cover during the summer, especially following rainstorms.

Reproduction: Breeds in shallow temporary pools, flooded fields, and ditches in early March through April, sometime forming very large choruses. Eggs are laid in elongate clusters attached to vegetation. The tadpoles transform in May and June.

Voice: A short, rising, scratchy "cree-ee-ee-ee-eek", reminiscent of the sound made when strumming the teeth of a comb. Males call from a floating position or (less often) perched at the edge of a pool.