A tiny frog whose metallic "click click click" calls sound like pebbles tapping together. Critically declining at northern range edges (Wisconsin, Michigan) for unclear reasons.

Native status: Native; declining in northern range

§ Quick facts

SizeAdult length 1.6–3.5 cm (0.6–1.4 in)
Weight1–5 g
LifespanWild typically 4 months (high mortality); some 2+ years
OrderAnura
FamilyHylidae

§ Encyclopedia

The northern cricket frog is a species of small hylid frog native to the United States and northeastern Mexico. These frogs are majorly in grey, green, and brown color with blotching patterns. Many have a brown or orange stripe down the center of their back and a triangular marking on the top of their head. Despite being members of the tree frog family, they are not arboreal. These frogs prefer habitats near the edges of slow-moving bodies of water, and in close proximity to shelter items, like rocks. It has two recognized subspecies, A. c. crepitans and A. c. paludicola.

Source: Wikipedia — Northern cricket frog Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Tiny warty frog (smallest US treefrog); variable green, brown, or gray; usually has a distinctive triangular mark between eyes; horizontal stripe through eye; short legs with small adhesive toe pads.

Similar species. Spring Peeper (X mark on back). Chorus frogs (different patterns). Other small Hylids.

Voice. Loud metallic "klick klick klick" — sounds like clicking pebbles or rolling marbles.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Small insects (flies, mosquitoes, springtails), spiders.

Behavior. Tiny treefrog of pond edges across most of central and eastern US — but populations have crashed precipitously across the northern and midwestern range since the 1970s, with declines exceeding 95% in Wisconsin and several other states. Causes remain debated: pesticides (atrazine in particular), habitat loss, chytrid fungus, and climate change all proposed. Often the most abundant calling frog at any single pond.

§ Range

Central and eastern US (declining in north)

§ Habitat

Open pond and stream edges with shallow water and abundant emergent vegetation

§ Threats

Wetland loss, pesticide runoff, ranavirus, chytrid fungus, unexplained northern declines.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the northern cricket frog is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Maintain pond-edge native vegetation. Skip lawn pesticides. Support amphibian disease research.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • AmphibiaWeb
  • USGS PWRC
  • Center for North American Herpetology
  • IUCN Red List 2014