Southern Cricket Frog
Acris gryllus
The southern cricket frog or acris gryllus is usually 0.75-1.5 inches in length. This species has a skin color that ranges from green to brown. The back of the southern c…
How to identify
The southern cricket frog or acris gryllus is usually 0.75-1.5 inches in length. This species has a skin color that ranges from green to brown. The back of the southern cricket frog is marked with patches of yellow, black or green, forming a “Y” shaped line. Acris gryllus has a pointed snout. On the back of its thigh, is a sharply-defined black stripe. The hind feet of this species are sparsely webbed.
Range
This species is native of the Southeastern United States. This includes west to Mississippi River and north into Virginia
Habitat
The habitat of the southern cricket frog ranges from coastal plain bogs, bottomland swamps to ditches and ponds. This species prefers sunny areas and is hardly found in woodlands. Acris gryllus feeds on insects, ants, flies, beetles, leafhoppers arthropods and spiders. Breeding starts late spring to summer. Females lay up to 150 eggs at a time externally in a freshwater habitat. More than one mass of eggs may be produced in a season.
Variations
Florida cricket frog or Acris gryllus dorsalis has two dark length-wise stripes on the hidden surface of its thigh. This species is usually brown in color with a single stripe running from the center of its head downwards through its back. Coastal plain cricket frog or Acris gryllus gryllus has a green single stripe down its back rather than that on the Florida cricket frog
Similar species
The Northern cricket frog or Acris crepitans has irregular blotching patterns on its dorsum which is usually of varying colors. Its colors ranges from grey, green to brown. This species has more webbing on its hind feet compared to the southern cricket frog. Blanchard’s cricket frog or Acris blanchardi has a warty skin of brown, gray, olive or tan coloration and darker bands of color on its legs. Presence of dark, triangular mark between the eyes of this species is a distinguishing feature.
Name and etymology
Gryllus: Latin for cricket or grasshopper, referencing its cricket like call
More illustrations
With orange stripe
At a glance
Size
15 to 33 mm
Range
This species is native of the Southeastern United States. This includes west to Mississippi River and north into Virginia
Habitat
The habitat of the southern cricket frog ranges from coastal plain bogs, bottomland swamps to ditches and ponds. This species…
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap