Frogs of the United States and Canada

1025 Pages·2013·36.196 MB·English

by  C. Kenneth Dodd

Frogs of the United States
and Canada

Frogs
of the United States
VOLUME 1
and Canada
C. Kenneth Dodd Jr.
The Johns Hopkins University Press
Baltimore
This book was brought to publication with the generous support of the
U.S. Geological Survey’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative,
the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Herpetologists’ League.
© 2013 The Johns Hopkins University Press A catalog record for this book is available from the British
All rights reserved. Published 2013 Library.
Printed in China on acid-f ree paper
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Frontispiece: “Rain Response” by Audrey K. Owens. Drawn
from photos by Bill Hilton, Jr. (www. hiltonpond .org),
The Johns Hopkins University Press Jane M. Rohling, and May Lattanzio.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-i n-Publication Data
The Johns Hopkins University Press uses environmentally
Dodd, C. Kenneth. friendly book materials, including recycled text paper that
Frogs of the United States and Canada / C. Kenneth is composed of at least 30 percent post-c onsumer waste,
Dodd Jr. whenever possible.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978- 1- 4214- 0633- 6 (hdbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN
1-4 214- 0633- 0 (hdbk. : alk. paper)
1. Frogs—United States. 2. Frogs—Canada. I. Title.
QL668.E2D57 2013
597.8(cid:397)9—dc23 2012017648
To the memory of Albert Hazen Wright and Anna Allen Wright,
pioneers in the study of North American frogs
and to Marian, for her love of nature
Little Frog Came a- hopping!
Little tree- frog . . .
. . . on the door . . .
. . . in the house . . .
. . . on my arm!
Sticky- cold
Clinging to warm- n- dry.
Go, frog! Go!
Back to the garden, frog!
The house and I are no place for you!
But, here he comes again ~
. . . on the wall . . .
. . . on the door . . .
. . . on my head . . .
. . . to the porch tiles . . .
. . . to the garden! (Sigh!)
Sing, frog!
Sing, if you can.
Be well
And do good
Tending the garden.
Marian Lovene Griffey
Contents
Preface ix Ollotis nebulifer 180 Pseudacris clarkii 328
Introduction xi Rhinella marina 186 Pseudacris crucifer 331
List of Abbreviations xxix Pseudacris feriarum 348
Family Craugastoridae Pseudacris fouquettei 357
Pseudacris illinoensis 363
SPECIES ACCOUNTS Craugastor augusti 192
Pseudacris kalmi 367
Pseudacris maculata 371
Family Ascaphidae Family Eleutherodactylidae
Pseudacris nigrita 385
Ascaphus montanus 1 Eleutherodactylus Pseudacris ocularis 391
Ascaphus truei 7 cystignathoides 197 Pseudacris ornata 395
Eleutherodactylus Pseudacris regilla 400
Family Bufonidae guttilatus 199 Pseudacris streckeri 416
Eleutherodactylus Pseudacris triseriata 421
Anaxyrus americanus 17
marnockii 201 Smilisca fodiens 428
Anaxyrus baxteri 43
Smilisca baudinii 431
Anaxyrus boreas 47
Family Hylidae
Anaxyrus californicus 65
Family
Anaxyrus canorus 70 Acris blanchardi 205
Leptodactylidae
Anaxyrus cognatus 78 Acris crepitans 219
Anaxyrus debilis 88 Acris gryllus 226 Leptodactylus fragilis 436
Anaxyrus exsul 92 Hyla andersonii 235
Anaxyrus fowleri 96 Hyla arenicolor 239 Family Microhylidae
Anaxyrus hemiophrys 113 Hyla avivoca 245
Gastrophryne
Anaxyrus houstonensis 120 Hyla chrysoscelis 250
carolinensis 439
Anaxyrus microscaphus 127 Hyla cinerea 262
Gastrophryne olivacea 448
Anaxyrus nelsoni 132 Hyla femoralis 274
Hypopachus variolosus 455
Anaxyrus punctatus 136 Hyla gratiosa 280
Anaxyrus quercicus 144 Hyla squirella 288
Family
Anaxyrus retiformis 149 Hyla versicolor 294
Rhinophrynidae
Anaxyrus speciosus 152 Hyla wrightorum 309
Anaxyrus terrestris 155 Pseudacris brachyphona 313 Rhinophrynus dorsalis 458
Anaxyrus woodhousii 166 Pseudacris brimleyi 319
Ollotis alvaria 177 Pseudacris cadaverina 322
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Preface
There are two reasons I became a biologist. First, Australia’s tropical rainforest, fi nding rare frogs
nature fascinates me. I have always been aston- in the Seychelles under a starry sky with fruit
ished at the diversity of life and how the sum bats squawking in the trees, fi nding Scutiger
total of its parts, from basic chemistry through tadpoles at 5,000 m in Tibet and foam- nesting
physiology and genetics all the way to immense Rhacophorus in Taiwan, and seeing my fi rst
ecosystems, still cannot explain the essence and dart- poison frogs in Costa Rica. I still get a thrill
“why” of life. Through herpetology, I have tried seeing a Barking Treefrog or hearing the soft
to make sense of how even a small portion of chirping of Eleutherodactylus planirostris around
nature works, and I have never understood people our front porch in Florida. Frogs are truly gentle
who have no interest in what makes them and beings and, as the New Zealanders say, “fact: the
our world what they are. There is nothing more survival of the Earth depends on frogs.”
fascinating than the organization and evolution of
life. The second reason for becoming a biologist Throughout my career, I have been fortunate
was the dread of working in an offi ce building. I to work with many creative, enthusiastic, and
wanted to be outdoors, not anchored to a desk; if knowledgeable friends, colleagues, and students.
there were canyons and forests and wild animals Although they may not have contributed directly
“out there,” why be inside? I was not always to this book, it could not have been written
successful at avoiding the tedium of paperwork without their guidance and friendship at least at
and administration—but then I was able to take some point over the past 30 years. I specifi cally
to the woods, creeks, deserts, and mountains. thank Butch Brodie, my major advisor at Clemson
Many people are drawn to the beauty of nature, University so many decades ago. There is nothing
but I was drawn also to its silence. I am never to stimulate interest and excitement better than
happier than when I am in some wild beautiful someone who is interested and excited about
quiet place. their work. Ronn Altig secured my fi rst teaching
I cannot say when I saw my fi rst frog, but I position, Hobart Smith provided encouragement
must have been very young. Growing up in mostly when I needed it, Jim Williams got me a job in
rural northern Virginia in the late 1950s and conservation, Ernie Liner talked books and made
1960s provided a wealth of habitats to explore. great food, Bob Shoop and Carol Ruckdeschel
I remember the singing American Toads and offered perspective and wine, and Dick Franz got
catching leopard frogs along the creek near my me started again in research after an eight- year
house in places that no longer exist. That started administrative stint. Thanks to you all.
me on a long journey that has taken me to six I thank the following persons, in particular, for
continents, fi fty states, three Canadian provinces, providing help with literature and information
and many Caribbean islands. At every turn I used in this volume: Kraig Adler, Ronn Altig, Kim
found frogs, and each place left its own special Babbitt, Jamie Barichivich, Breck Bartholomew,
memories: listening to Bird-v oiced Treefrogs in Aaron Bauer, James Bettaso, Jeff Briggler, Robin
a Mississippi swamp, trying to photograph a Jung Brown, Charles Bursey, Bruce Bury, Brian
large ranid in Kenya and suddenly realizing I was Butterfi eld, Christine Campbell, Celia Chen,
laying on an ant mound (do the dance!), search- Michael Conlon, Steve Corn, Christopher Distel,
ing unsuccessfully for gastric- brooding frogs in Nathan Engbrecht, Edward Ervin, Gary Fellers,