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Rana clamitans melanota

(Northern Green Frog)

Overview

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The Green Frog is divided into two subspecies , the Bronze Frog, R. c. clamitans, and the Northern Green Frog, R. c. melanota. The Bronze Frog is a medium sized frog attaining lengths around 3 inches; the Northern Green Frog is slightly larger reaching sizes of 3.5 inches. In both the dorsolateral folds or ridges do not end on the body and do not continue to the groin . As in some other species of frogs, the gender of the individual frog can be determined by the size of the tympanic membrane relative to the eye. It is considerably larger than the eye in males and about the same size as the eye in females. Also, males are often a bright yellow as shown below right . Bronze Frogs are so named because of the brown or bronze coloration on their dorsal surface. Northern Green Frogs usually have more green coloring on the back, but are often more brown than green. They also tend to have da/p>

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

green frog, Northern Green Frog

Description

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Physical Description

Species Rana clamitans melanota

Size: Length ranges from 5.4 - 10.2 cm (2 - 4 in).

Color: There are two subspecies based on color. The Green Frog is the green subspecies R. clamitans melanota. It has a green or brown back covered with brownish or grey blotches. The Bronze Frog is the bronze subspecies R. clamitans clamitans. It has a bronze or brownish back and may be quite plain , with no blotches. The belly of both subspecies is white with dark spots or elongated blotches.

Other things to look for: The Green Frog is generally larger than the Bronze Frog. Both subspecies have a prominent external eardrum, thetympanum, which in the male is larger than the diameter of the eye. The dorsolateral folds reach part way down the back

Habitat

Frequents shallow waters and vegetation surrounding streams , ponds , marshes, springs , and swamps . This is a secretive frog , hiding in logs , rotting wood , and under debris during the day. It may be found in the same habitats as Bullfrogs, but it prefers smaller bodies of water. Like the Bullfrog, it needs permanent water, because the tadpole stage lasts for several months.

Biology

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Diet

An opportunistic feeder and eats small frogs , worms, insects, and other small, unwary organisms .

Reproduction

Breeds from April through late summer. Fertilization is external. The female lays surface masses of up to 3,000 eggs in shallow water. Hatching occurs in one to two weeks. The larval stage is extended, and transformation from tadpoles to frogs does not occur for several months.

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Rana clamitans melanota Rafinesque, 1820 • Rana clamitans melanota Rafinesque, 1820

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: June 11, 2001.

Similar Species

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The Bullfrog lacks dorsolateral folds. The Pig Frog, the River Frog, and the Carpenter Frog lack dorsolateral folds and are found only on the Coastal Plain. The Southern Leopard Frog and the Pickerel Frog have bold spots on their backs.

Members of the genus Rana

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 132 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

R. adenopleura (Olive Frog) · R. amurensis (Siberian Wood Frog) · R. andersonii (Yunnan Odorous Frog) · R. areolata (Northern Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata aesopus (Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata areolata (Southern Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata circulosa (Northern Crawfish Frog) · R. arfaki (Arfak Mountains Frog) · R. arvalis (Altai Brown Frog (Altai Mountains Populations)) · R. asiatica (Central Asiatic Frog) · R. asperata (Yangambi Butterbarbel) · R. aurantiaca (Golden Frog) · R. aurora (California Red-Legged Frog) · R. aurora aurora (Northern Red-Legged Frog) · R. aurora draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) · R. baramica (Baram River Frog) · R. bergeri (Italian Poolfrog) · R. berlandieri (Rio Grande Leopard Frog) · R. blairi (Plains Leopard Frog) · R. boylii (Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog) · R. boylii boylii (Foothill Yellow Legged Frog) · R. brownorum (Brown's Leopard Frog) · R. bwana (Rio Chipillico Frog) · R. camerani (Iranian Long-Legged Frog) · R. capito (Carolina Gopher Frog) · R. capito aesopus (Florida Gopher Frog) · R. capito capito (Carolina Gopher Frog) · R. capito sevosa (Dusky Gopher Frog) · R. cascadae (Cascades Frog) · R. catesbeiana (North American Bullfrog) · R. chalconota (Schlegel's Java Frog) · R. chapaensis (Chapa Frog) · R. chensinensis (Asiatic Grass Frog) · R. chiricahuensis (Chiricahua Leopard Frog) · R. clamitans (Bronze Frog) · R. clamitans clamitans (Bronze Frog) · R. clamitans melanota (Northern Green Frog) · R. cubitalis (Siam Frog) · R. daemeli (Australian Wood Frog) · R. dalmatina (Agile Frog) · R. draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) · R. dunni (Patzcuaro Frog) · R. dybowskii (Dybowski's Frog) · R. emelijanovi (Imeinpo Station Frog) · R. esculenta (Edible Frog) · R. fasciata (Tanganyika Striped Grass Frog) · R. fisheri (Las Vegas Leopard Frog) · R. forreri (Forrer's Grass Frog) · R. galamensis (Galam White-Lipped Frog) · R. glandulosa (Sarawak Frog) · R. graeca (Greek Stream Frog) · R. grylio (Pig Frog) · R. heckscheri (River Frog) · R. hecksheri (River Frog) · R. hejiangensis (Hejiang Frog) · R. holsti (Holst's Frog) · R. holtzi (Taurus Frog) · R. hosii (Mount Dulit Frog) · R. iberica (Iberian Frog) · R. ishikawae (Ishikawa's Frog) · R. italica (Italian Stream Frog) · R. japonica (Japanese Brown Frog) · R. johnsi (John's Groove-Toed Frog) · R. juliani (Maya Mountains Frog) · R. latastei (Italian Agile Frog) · R. lessonae (Pool Frog) · R. livida (Green Cascade Frog) · R. luteiventris (Great Basin Spotted Frog) · R. macrocnemis (Iranian Long-Legged Frog) · R. macroglossa (Guatemala Plateau Frog) · R. maculata (Highland Frog) · R. magnaocularis (Northwest Mexico Leopard Frog) · R. malabarica (Fungoid Frog) · R. maosonensis (Mo-Son Frog) · R. melanomenta (Sulu Frog) · R. montezumae (Montezuma Leopard Frog) · R. muscosa (Southern Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog) · R. narina (Ryukyu Island Frog) · R. neovolcanica (Transverse Volcanic Leopard Frog) · R. nicobariensis (Nicobar Island Frog) · R. nigromaculata (Black-Spotted Pond Frog) · R. nigromaculata nigromaculata (Black-Spotted Pond Frog) · R. nigrovittata (Black-Striped Frog) · R. okaloosae (Florida Bog Frog) · R. okaloossae (Florida Bog Frog) · R. omiltemana (Guerreran Leopard Frog) · R. onca (Relict Leopard Frog) · R. ornativentris (Montane Brown Frog) · R. palmipes (Amazon River Frog) · R. palustris (Pickerel Frog) · R. perezi (Perez's Frog) · R. pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) · R. pipiens pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) · R. pleuraden (Yunkwei Plateau Frog) · R. pretiosa (Oregon Spotted Frog) · R. pustulosa (Cascade Frog) · R. pyrenaica (Pyrenean Frog) · R. raniceps (Peters' Malaysian Frog) · R. ridibunda (European Green Frog) · R. rugosa (Wrinkled Frog)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Identifiers

Last Revised: 2012-07-14