Michigan Frogs & Toads  

Eastern American Toad  Bullfrog Mink Frog Pickerel Frog

Fowler's Toad  Gray Tree Frog   Northern Leopard Frog Western Chorus Frog

Blanchard's Cricket Frog  Green Frog Northern Spring Peeper Wood Frog

FROG / TOAD FEATURES: 

• Michigan frog and toad breeding begins in late winter - early summer depending on the species.  The males go to breeding sites (shallow water areas) and call the females.  Males may fight over breeding sites.   Fertilization of frog and toad eggs is strickly external in Michigan. 

• All Michigan frogs and toads have a larva (tadpole) stage in their life cycle.

• Tadpoles mainly feed on algea but will also eat dead animals (including their dead brothers and sisters).

• Adult frogs and toads are carnivorus. They will eat animals that fall into their predatorial size range (in most cases this means insects, however a large bullfrog may eat another frog, a turtle, a snake, a rodent, or a bird). 

• All frogs and toads absorb small amounts of their oxygen supply through their skin. 

• Frogs and toads absorb water through their skin as well.

• Frogs and toads have poison glands in their skin to help deter predators.

See also Michigan DNR

SPECIES:

EASTERN AMERICAN TOAD Bufo americanus americanus Size:  2 to 4.5 " Range:  found throughout Michigan;  may be round in suburban areas Habitat:  wooded areas;  meadows;  lakeshores. Life cycle:  breeding = early April to early May;  metamorphisis = 1.5 to 2.5 months.   Call:  musical trill

FOWLER'S TOAD Bufo woodhousii fowleri  Size:  2 to 5 " Range:  western and southern counties of the lower peninsula Habitat:  wooded areas;  fields;  sandy areas;   Sleeping Bear Sand Dune area Life cycle:  breeding = mid May to mid June;   metamorphisis = 4 months. Call:  sounds like sheep.

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BLANCHARD'S CRICKET FROG Acris crepitans blanchardi Size:  .75 to 1.5 " Range:  southern half of the lower peninsula Habitat:  ponds;  lakes;  streams;  muddy areas with plant life Life cycle:  breeding = late May to mid July;  metamorphisis = 1.25 to 2.5 months. Call:  shrill;   clicking

BULLFROG Rana catesbeiana Size:  3.5 to 8 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  ponds;  lakes;  marshes;  areas of plant growth Life cycle:  breeding = early June to early July;  metamorphisis = 12 to 24 months.   Call:  deep pitch;   can be heard by humans up to 1/4 mile away. See Also: Species Spotlight on Rana catesbeiana

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GRAY TREE FROG Hyla versicolor / Hyla chrysoscelis Size:  1.25 to 2.5 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  damp woodlands;  swamps;  farmland;  suburbs Life cycle:  breeding = late April to June;  metamorphisis = 1.5 to 2 months.  Call:  trill sound (heard in spring and summer)

GREEN FROG Rana clamitans melanota Size:  2 to 4.25 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  ponds;  lakes;  marshes;  streams; swamps;   rivers;  damp woodlands Life cycle:  breeding = mid May to mid summer;  metamorphisis = approx. 2 or 9 months (the 9 month figure = animals that spend the winter as tadpoles).  Call:  like a banjo string

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MINK FROG Rana septentrionalis Size:  1.75 to 3 " Range:  throughout the upper peninsula of Michigan Habitat:  ponds;  lakes;  streams;  areas of heavy plant life Life cycle:  breeding = early June to July;  metamorphisis = 12 to 24 months.  Call:  low pitch, metalic

NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG Rana pipens Size:  2 to 5 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  marshes;  meadows;  ponds;  lakes;  streams;   grassy areas. Life cycle:  breeding = April;  metamorphisis = 3 to 4 months.  Call:  low snore-like for 3 seconds followed by clucking sounds

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NORTHERN SPRING PEEPER Pseudacris crucifer crucifer (Hyla crucifer) Size:  .75 to 1.38 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  swamps;  woodlands;  meadows Life cycle:  breeding = late March to May;  metamorphisis = 2 to 3 months.  Call:  high pitch whistle;  trill;   jingle bells sound

PICKEREL FROG Rana palustris Size:  1.75 to 3.5 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  marshes;  grassy areas;  lakes;  streams. Life cycle:  breeding = April to early May;  metamorphisis = 2 to 3 months.  Call:  low croak;  snore-like sound

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WESTERN CHORUS FROG Pseudacris triseriata triseriata Size:  .75 to 1.5 " Range:  found throughout the lower peninsula;  may be round in suburban and farm areas. Habitat:  marshes;  meadows;  farm fields;  damp woodlands. Life cycle:  breeding = mid March to April;  metamorphisis = 1.5 to 2 months.  Call:  rising trill for 1-2 seconds

WOOD FROG Rana sylvatica Size:  1.5 to 3.25 " Range:  throughout Michigan Habitat:  damp shaded woodlands Life cycle:  breeding = late March to early April;  metamorphisis = 1.5 to 2.5 months.  Call:  short quacks

Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians

 

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