Northern Pacific Tree Frog

Range

Western coast of the United States and Canada from southern British Columbia, Canada, southward through Washington and Baja, California and as far east as Montana.

Habitats

Found in a variety of habitats including forest, woodland, grassland, desert, and urban areas. They live on land all time except during the breeding season when males move to ponds, streams, reservoirs, or ditches to compete for females. Once female lays her eggs in the water, male fertilizes them eternally, and both male and female leave the water. Males and females exhibit a variety of behavior at the breeding site with some staying only a few weeks and others staying the entire breeding season.

Identification

Relatively small frog with large head and long and slender legs. Toe tips are extended and contain round pads and limited webbing between the toes. Dorsal color usually green or brown and often with irregular dark spots. Dark stripe runs from snout to shoulder and snout-vent length is up to 5 cm. Mature male has a dark throat and loudly repeats "kreck-ek" when sounding a breeding call. Egg masses contain loose clumps of 10-80 eggs and attach to objects in shallow water. Larvae often spotted brown or olive with wide set eyes.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians