A tiny gray-brown frog whose creaky "crreek crreek" trill (like running a fingernail along a comb) fills central prairie wetlands in early spring. One of the earliest amphibian breeders.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The western chorus frog, also known as striped chorus frog, or midland chorus frog is a species of frog found in Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia — Western chorus frog Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small brown frog with three darker stripes down back (vs. single dark mid-back stripe in spring peeper).
Similar species. Spring Peeper (X-pattern; not stripes). Cricket Frog (different shape).
Voice. Series of high-pitched creaks like running fingernail down comb.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small insects, spiders.
Behavior. Small frog of central US prairie wetlands. Early spring breeder; chorus heard from prairie pothole regions in February-March.
§ Range
Central US and southern Canada
§ Habitat
Wet meadows, marshes, flooded fields, temporary spring ponds
§ Threats
Wetland drainage, road mortality, ranavirus and chytrid fungus.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the western chorus frog is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain spring wetlands and flooded field corners. Drive slowly on rainy spring nights. Support amphibian disease research.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Western chorus frog
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Pseudacris triseriata
- IUCN Red List · taxon 55893
- iNaturalist · taxon 25564
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pseudacris triseriata
§ Sources cited
- AmphibiaWeb
- USGS PWRC
- IUCN Red List 2014
