Southern cricket frog

Southern cricket frog

Southeastern cricket frog

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Acris gryllus
Length
15-33
0.6-1.3
mminch
mm inch 

The southern cricket frog or southeastern cricket frog (Acris gryllus ) is a small hylid frog native to the Southeastern United States. It is very similar in appearance and habits to the northern cricket frog, Acris crepitans, and was considered formerly conspecific (Dickerson 1906). The scientific name Acris is from the Greek word for locust, and the species name gryllus is Latin for cricket (Georgia Wildlife).

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Na

Natatorial

Ju

Jumping

Te

Terrestrial

Te

Territorial

Po

Polygyny

Po

Polygamy

So

Solitary

Hi

Hibernating

No

Not a migrant

S

starts with

Appearance

At 0.75–1.5 inches (16–32 mm) in length, Acris gryllus is even smaller than A. crepitans. Other characters that differentiate the southern species are:

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  • More pointed snout--A. crepitans more blunt.
  • Hind leg is more than half length of the body when folded—that of A. crepitans is less than one half body length. When rear leg is extended forward, the heel of A. gryllus usually reaches beyond the snout—does not reach snout in A. crepitans.
  • A. gryllus can jump longer distances than A. crepitans.
  • A. gryllus has a sharply-defined black stripe on the back of the thigh--A. crepitans has a ragged stripe.
  • Webbing on rear feet of A. gryllus is sparse, more extensive in A. crepitans.

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Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

The southern cricket frog is characteristic of coastal plain bogs, bottomland swamps, ponds, and ditches. It prefers sunny areas, and is usually not found in woodlands. Subspecies Acris gryllus gryllus is found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia through the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, west to the Mississippi River. It is found mostly east of the Fall Line, but extends into more upland areas of the Piedmont along river valleys. Subspecies Acris gryllus dorsalis is found throughout the Florida peninsula.

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

The southern cricket frog feeds on insects, spiders, and other arthropods. It is active throughout the year in warm weather.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
BABY CARRYING
150
INDEPENDENT AGE
4 days

Breeding is in late spring and summer. The advertisement call of the males is a loud rapid gick, gick, gick. Up to 150 eggs are laid at a time, and more than one mass may be produced in a season (Martof et al. 1980).

Population

References

1. Southern cricket frog Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_cricket_frog
2. Southern cricket frog on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/55287/56188704

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