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Blanchard’s cricket frog Acris blanchardi range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI size: 3/4–1 1/2 inches description: Small olive-brown nonclimbing frog with warty skin; green, red, or brown stripe on back; dark triangle between eyes. Hind legs long with dark stripe on inner thigh. Belly white, males with dark throat. Tiny toe pads on front and hind feet, hind feet with extensive webbing. habitat: Muddy banks along edges of ponds, lakes, rivers, streams voice: Series of metallic notes that sound like glass or steel marbles tapping together, “gick, gick.” Starts out slow and speeds up. Calls both day and night. Males call while floating on water or on mats of vegetation. natural history: When frightened, this little frog jumps into water to escape but immediately swims back to shore. Feeds on terrestrial insects and spiders. Breeds late April to August. Tadpoles transform by mid September. similar species: Chorus frogs have white stripe on upper jaw and 3 dark stripes on back. Northern spring peeper is not warty, has Xshaped mark on back. ▼ Northern spring peeper Pseudacris crucifer crucifer range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI size: 3/4–1 3/8 inches description: Small tan, brown, or gray treefrog with smooth skin and dark, X-shaped mark on back; dark spot or narrow line between eyes; dark crossbands on tops of legs. Colder frogs darker, warmer frogs lighter. Belly white, sometimes with dark flecks; males with folded skin under throat. Upper jaw extends beyond lower jaw. Small toe pads, hind feet webbed. habitat: Woodlands; breeds in marshy areas, roadside ditches, ponds voice: Series of high-pitched, birdlike “peeps” repeated about once per second or faster. Calls both day and night. Males may call in loud choruses of many individuals . natural history: One of the first frogs to call in spring. Hibernates in woodlands under leaf litter, rotting logs, or other debris and is one of the frogs that can withstand partial freezing . Hunts in low vegetation and feeds primarily on terrestrial insects and spiders. Breeds late February to May. Tadpoles transform in approximately 2 months. similar species: Chorus frogs have white stripe on upper jaw and 3 dark stripes on back. Blanchard’s cricket frog has warty skin; green, red, or brown stripe on back; and dark triangle between eyes. Gray treefrogs are warty, lack distinct X-shaped mark on back. ▼ ...

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