unidentified green frog

The frog in the pictures appears to be a juvenile bullfrog. I'd guess
there is a breeding site nearby, and you experience migrations of
metamorphized offspring (a couple or three inches long, snout to
vent). A pretty common thing.

"Gail Futoran" wrote:

Thanks for the links. I've bookmarked them. I didn't spot
"my" frog (he/she seems to be hiding g) but there are some
possibilities there.

I've thought about purchasing the guidebook you mentioned
but perusing it in the bookstore I didn't see my frog, and I
have several other guidebooks already. But I didn't have
the photos at the time, so that might be a possibility.

Gail

"tim chandler" wrote in message
.. .
Even easier to use might be this link, you can click on
any state and it'll
show thumbnails of frogs found in that state:

http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA/frog...state=tx#frogs

"tim chandler" wrote in message
...
Gail,

A quick trip to Google searching for these words
identify frog Texas
turns up quite a few links, one that has pictures is
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/narcam/idguide/

You can also buy a good field guide, highly recommended
is Roger Conant's
"A
Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians", a Peterson
Field Guide.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"GD" wrote in message
...
The frog in the pictures appears to be a juvenile
bullfrog. I'd guess
there is a breeding site nearby, and you experience
migrations of
metamorphized offspring (a couple or three inches long,
snout to
vent). A pretty common thing.

Bullfrogs get to be pretty darned big, don't they? And I
would kind of expect to have seen one of them around the
yard in 10 years of living in this house. In that time I've
seen plenty of Gulf Coast Toads (from babies to full-grown -
about 5"), and the rare sighting of these little green frogs
that never are larger than 2" - usually less. I think
that's the adult size, else bullfrogs are breeding in my
yard then going elsewhere? Doesn't make much sense when I
have an in-ground pond they can happily breed in and eat the
minnows. ::shrug:: Plus the only tadpoles I've seen are
(presumably Gulf Coast) toad tadpoles that transform in one
season - heck, in about two months.

Gail

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
news
Have you been able to see the belly part? It looks to me
from the back very
much like a Fire-Belly Toad that PetsMart is always
selling. They don't
look very toad like either, and about similar in size.
Their belly region
will be creme to red in color based on what they've been
eating and/or
mating season (got me). All I pulled up was a tiny
fingernail picture, so
can't really tell, other than that is what went thru my
mind. Not sure
where Fire-Belly Toads are native (website says Asia), but
I'm sure if
PetsMart sells them down there, turn a few loose in your
warm climate and
they'd probably do fine.

The little green frogs in my yard are uniformly green and
with no patterns - the Fire Belly Toads in the photo at the
link you gave have distinct black marks on their backs.
Size, shape & "wartiness" are similar, though, so that was a
reasonable guess. I believe my green frogs are native but
can't prove it yet. Next time I see one I'll (carefully)
capture it and take it to the San Antonio Zoo! I'm a
member, the least they can do is ID a local frog for me.

Gail

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 15:51:07 GMT, "Gail Futoran"
wrote:


Next time I see one I'll (carefully)
capture it and take it to the San Antonio Zoo! I'm a
member, the least they can do is ID a local frog for me.
Gail

Do report what you find out, we'd all like to know. Course, now that you
really want to find one, will they cooperate? ;o) ~ jan


See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 15:51:07 GMT, "Gail Futoran"
wrote:


Next time I see one I'll (carefully)
capture it and take it to the San Antonio Zoo! I'm a
member, the least they can do is ID a local frog for me.

Gail

Do report what you find out, we'd all like to know.
Course, now that you
really want to find one, will they cooperate? ;o) ~ jan

They haven't in the last ten years, but then I never
expected to see one sitting on top of one of my rose beds,
bold as you please.

Gail

Looking through Texas Monthly Fieldguide Series "A
Fieldguide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Texas", Blanchard's
cricket frog is the closest match to my green frog, in shape
& size, even pose! The photo in the book (plate 4, lower
left photo) almost exactly matches the pose shown in the
photo Ken so kindly posted:

http://www.kencofish.com/pics/frog1.jpg

Color and pattern are the only major differences I can see.
And the Blanchard's cricket frog is widespread in TX. Maybe
it's just a color difference? I don't think it's a
treefrog, because "my" frog lacks the broader pads on its
fingertips.

Anyway, in terms of world peace it doesn't count for much,
but I find I enjoy the challenge of identifying wildlife,
and eventually we'll figure it out. Thanks for y'all's
indulgence!

Happy holidays - Gail

Hi Gail,

Often the easiest way to identify a frog or toad is by its call, although
when several species are present it's sometimes hard to tell which one made
which call, since they stop when you catch them or get close! Here's a
link to Texas frog and toad calls:
http://www.lifesci.utexas.edu/resear...ogs/calls.html

A nice site for Florida, the sounds may help even if the ranges don't extend
to Texas:
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/frogs/#

And a link to several commercial CDs/cassettes with other central/eastern US
species, many of which will still be found where you a
http://www.naturesound.com/guides/pages/frogs.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/heritagephoto/frog.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...24865?v=glance

You may have to wait until it warms up a bit to hear their calls, although
late February/early March where you are may start the breeding season for
many species.

Happy Ponding,
Tim

Tim - Thanks for the links and the suggestion! I will do
that when weather warms up again and I can hear them. They
are quite active (and I assume it's the little green frogs
I'm hearing) on warm nights so this might well help.

Gail

"tim chandler" wrote in message
...

Hi Gail,

Often the easiest way to identify a frog or toad is by its
call, although
when several species are present it's sometimes hard to
tell which one made
which call, since they stop when you catch them or get
close! Here's a
link to Texas frog and toad calls:

http://www.lifesci.utexas.edu/resear...ogs/calls.html

A nice site for Florida, the sounds may help even if the
ranges don't extend
to Texas:
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/frogs/#

And a link to several commercial CDs/cassettes with other
central/eastern US
species, many of which will still be found where you a
http://www.naturesound.com/guides/pages/frogs.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/heritagephoto/frog.html

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...24865?v=glance

You may have to wait until it warms up a bit to hear their
calls, although
late February/early March where you are may start the
breeding season for
many species.

Happy Ponding,
Tim