Green Frog (Rana clamitans)

Description: The green frog is generally greenish or greenish-brown above, with numerous dark brown or grayish spots or blotches. Dusky bars run across the legs. The venter is white, although dark spots or mottling can be present under the legs and head, and the throat of adult males is bright yellow. Dorso-lateral folds are prominent, extending almost the entire length of the back and branching almost at right angles behind the tympanum. Often the ridges are interrupted just before they terminate. In adult males, the tympanum is larger than the eye (Stewart 1983).

Green frogs could easily be confused with both the larger bullfrog and more aquatic mink frog, but bullfrogs never have prominent dorso-lateral folds and adult mink frogs smell musky when handled. Furthermore, the webbing on the toes of the hind feet of the green frog rarely passes beyond the second joint of the fourth toe and never reaches the tip of the fifth toe. In the mink frog, this webbing extends to the last joint of the fourth toe and to the tip of the fifth toe.

Adult green frogs range from 6 to 10.5 cm (2.4-4.1") long, with females being somewhat larger than males. Adults usually reach sexual maturity the first summer season after metamorphosis, when males are between 6-6.5 cm (2.4-2.6") long and females are between 6.5-7.5 cm (2.6-3.0") long. Some individuals may not breed until the second year after transformation.

Tadpoles are olive green with numerous dark spots on the dorsum and an iridescent cream color on the venter. The throat and sides are mottled with dark green, and the tail is green mottled with brown. Tadpoles grow to 6.4 cm (2.5") long and have an elongate tail with an acute tip. The larval stage lasts a little over 1 year, then tadpoles metamorphose into frogs that measure between 2.8-3.8 cm (1.1-1.5") long.

Voice: During the breeding season, males emit a throaty staccato "unck" that sounds much like plucking a loose banjo string. Occasionally, males will repeat the note 3-4 times in a rapid series, each note getting progressively softer. Using sonagrams, Wells (1978) was able to distinguish different calls used in different contexts.

Audio: Green Frog call (coming soon)