Frogs and Toads in Your Pocket: A Guide to Amphibians of the Upper Midwest

by Terry VanDeWalle, Suzanne L. Collins (Photographer)

Overview

Frogs and toads have become canaries in the coal mine when it comes to conservation, as the discovery of malformed frogs has brought increased attention to global habitat loss, declining biodiversity, and environmental pollution. Midwestern species of frogs and toads—already declining due to habitat loss from agriculture—have been greatly affected by this worldwide phenomenon. VanDeWalle includes a complete description of each species along with distinguishing characteristics for three subspecies, information about range and habitat preferences, diet, types of calls, and breeding season.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609380595
Publisher:	University of Iowa Press
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Series:	Bur Oak Guide
Edition description:	1
Pages:	1
Sales rank:	447,010
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Terry VanDeWalle has been researching reptiles and amphibians in the Midwest for more than twenty years. Author of Snakes and Lizards in Your Pocket: A Guide to Reptiles of the Upper Midwest (Iowa, 2010), he is a senior biologist with Stantec Consulting in Independence, Iowa. Wildlife photographer Suzanne Collins is an executive officer of the Center for North American Herpetology.

Read an Excerpt

Frogs and Toads in your pocket

A Guide to Amphibians of the Upper Midwest

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By Terry VanDeWalle

University of Iowa Press

Copyright © 2011 University of Iowa Press
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-60938-059-5

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Chapter One

Eastern spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii

RANGE: IL, IN, MO, OH SIZE: 1 ¾–2 ¼ inches DESCRIPTION: Medium brown or yellow toadlike amphibian with large, protruding eyes; vertically elliptical pupils; short legs; and large feet. Head, back, and legs mottled with dark brown. Two yellowish lines usually extend from eyes down back and come together to form an hourglass shape. No raised area or boss between eyes. Belly gray to white, unspotted. Skin with small warts that may be tipped in red. Parotoid glands small, round, not easily seen. 1 long, sickle-shaped digging spur or spade on heel of each hind foot. HABITAT: Open fields and wooded areas with loose, sandy soils; breeds in temporary pools and flooded fields VOICE: Series of explosive groans, "errrrrrah," similar to young crows NATURAL HISTORY: These amphibians spend most of their time underground in burrows they dig using the spades on their hind feet. They become active on warm, rainy nights when they come out of their burrows to breed. Feed on a variety of insects. Breed April to September. Adapted to temporary waters, eggs hatch in a few days and tadpoles transform in 2 to 3 weeks. SIMILAR SPECIES: Plains spadefoot has raised area or boss between eyes and short, wedge-shaped spade on heel of each hind foot. American, Fowler's, Woodhouse's, and Great Plains toads have well-developed warts, cranial ridges, and parotoid glands; 2 large spades on heels of hind feet; and pupils that are horizontally oval.

Plains spadefoot Spea bombifrons

RANGE: IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD SIZE: 1 ½–2 inches DESCRIPTION: Medium gray, tan, or brown toadlike amphibian with large, protruding eyes; vertically elliptical pupils; short legs; and large feet. Head, back, and legs mottled with irregular dark marks. May have 2 to 4 faint light lines on back. Raised area or boss between eyes. Belly gray to white, unspotted. Skin with small warts that may be reddish. Parotoid glands small, round, not easily seen. 1 short, wedge-shaped digging spur or spade on heel of each hind foot. HABITAT: Prairies and open floodplains with loose, sandy soils; breeds in temporary pools and flooded fields VOICE: Snorelike growl repeated every 1 to 2 seconds NATURAL HISTORY: This amphibian may spend all but 2 weeks of the year underground in burrows it digs using the spades on its hind feet. Like the eastern spadefoot, it becomes active on warm, rainy nights when it comes out of its burrow to breed. Feeds on a variety of insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Breeds April to September. Adapted to temporary waters, eggs hatch in a few days and tadpoles transform in 2 to 3 weeks. SIMILAR SPECIES: Eastern spadefoot lacks raised area or boss between eyes and has long, sickle-shaped spade on heel of each hind foot. American, Fowler's, Woodhouse's, and Great Plains toads have well-developed warts, cranial ridges, and parotoid glands; 2 large spades on heels of hind feet; and pupils that are horizontally oval.

American toad Anaxyrus americanus

RANGE: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI SIZE: 2–4 ¼ inches DESCRIPTION: Large gray, brown, or reddish brown toad with warty skin; many dark spots on back; and heavily mottled chest and belly. Usually 1 or 2 warts on each of largest dark spots on back, 1 large and 1 small digging spur or spade on heels of hind feet. Enlarged warts on lower part of leg. May have narrow light stripe down middle of back. Large, kidney-shaped parotoid glands behind eyes may be separated from or connected by a spur to distinct cranial ridges between eyes. HABITAT: Prairies, forests, marshes, farmland, urban areas; breeds in rivers, ponds, roadside ditches VOICE: High-pitched musical trill lasting up to 30 seconds NATURAL HISTORY: When attacked, this common and widespread toad produces a substance from the large warts on its back that can be poisonous to small animals. It may also inflate itself with air, making it difficult to swallow, and it often releases urine when frightened. Feeds on insects and earthworms. Breeds April to early May. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: Fowler's toad has 3 or more warts on each of largest spots on back, unspotted chest and belly, warts on upper and lower legs nearly equal in size, parotoid glands touch cranial ridges. Woodhouse's toad has unspotted chest and belly, parotoid glands touch cranial ridges. Great Plains toad has cranial ridges between eyes that come together and meet at snout to form raised knob.

Great Plains toad Anaxyrus cognatus

RANGE: IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD SIZE: 2–3 ½ inches DESCRIPTION: Medium gray, brown, or greenish toad with warty skin; distinctive large dark spots outlined in white or cream; and unspotted belly. Each dark spot contains numerous warts, 1 large and 1 small digging spur or spade on heels of hind feet. May have light line down middle of back. Hind legs are banded, front legs banded or spotted. Parotoid glands behind eyes touch cranial ridges. Cranial ridges between eyes come together and meet at snout to form raised knob. HABITAT: Prairies and nonnative grasslands; breeds in rivers, ponds, roadside ditches VOICE: Loud, continuous, pulsating trill with mechanical quality lasting 20 to 50 seconds NATURAL HISTORY: This prairie toad is active at night and is a skilled burrower, spending its days underground. Feeds on insects such as beetles and ants. Breeds April to late June. Each female may lay up to 20,000 eggs. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: American, Fowler's, and Woodhouse's toads have cranial ridges between eyes that do not come together and meet at snout to form raised knob.

Tadpoles

American toad: Up to 1 inch long, black or dark brown with metallic spots, tail fin clear with rounded tip.

Blanchard's cricket frog: Up to 1 ½ inches long, appears flattened, tail fin faintly mottled, tip of tail black.

Boreal, midland, or upland chorus frog: Up to 1 3/16 inches long, upper tail fin higher than lower tail fin, tail fin clear or with light flecks.

Bronze or green frog: Up to 4 inches long, few black spots on body, tail and tail fin heavily spotted.

Bullfrog: Up to 4 ½ inches long, black spots on upper side of body and tail.

Eastern narrowmouth toad: Up to 13/16 inch long, mostly black, never gray or brassy, belly dark with pale blotches and mottling, tail stripe bright and distinct.

Eastern or Cope's gray treefrog: Up to 1 1/8 inches long, tail fin medium in height, clear band next to tail muscle.

Eastern spadefoot: Up to 2 inches long, dark brown to bronze, clear tail fin, no marks on tail muscle.

Fowler's toad: Up to 1 inch long, black or dark brown with metallic spots, tail fin clear with rounded tip.

Great Plains narrowmouth toad: Up to 15/16 inch long, grayish olive, flat, wide, tip of tail black.

Great Plains toad: Up to 1 inch long, black or dark brown with metallic spots, tail fin clear with rounded tip.

Mink frog: Up to 1 3/8 inches long, bright green to yellow-green with dark spots, reddish tail fin.

Northern crawfish frog: Up to 2 ½ inches long, series of pits along sides of body.

Northern leopard frog: Up to 2 ½ inches long, dark back, cream belly, tail lighter than belly.

Northern spring peeper: Up to 1 1/8 inches long, tail fin medium in height, clear band next to tail muscle.

Pickerel frog: Up to 2 1/8 inches long, few scattered marks on body, tail heavily marked with dark mottling.

Plains leopard frog: Up to 2 ½ inches long, upper side light brown or gray, spots on back.

Plains spadefoot: Up to 1 7/8 inches long, tan or brown, clear tail fin, tail muscle outlined with dark pigment.

Southern leopard frog: Up to 2 ¼ inches long, few faint markings on body and tail.

Wood frog: Up to 1 7/8 inches long, brown with greenish sheen, tail fin clear ending in sharp point.

Woodhouse's toad: Up to 1 inch long, black or dark brown with metallic spots, tail fin clear with rounded tip.

Eastern narrowmouth toad Gastrophryne carolinensis

RANGE: IL, KS, MO SIZE: 7/8–1 ¼ inches DESCRIPTION: Small, plump olive, brown, reddish brown, or nearly black amphibian with spotted or mottled belly. May have narrow stripe down back. Skin moist, smooth with no warts or ridges. Head small compared to rest of body, very pointed snout. Fold of skin across back of head behind eyes. Legs short, toes lack webbing and toe pads. No external tympanum. HABITAT: Open, moist areas with abundant cover; breeds in ponds, lakes, marshes, roadside ditches VOICE: Buzzy, nasal "waaaaaa" similar to cry of a lamb. May sound like Fowler's toad but shorter and more buzzy. NATURAL HISTORY: Although called a toad, this is actually a frog. When not breeding, this little frog is found in loose soil beneath rocks, rotting logs, bark, or other objects. One of the few amphibians to feed regularly on ants, it uses the fold of skin on the back of its head to keep them away from its eyes. Breeds May to June. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: Great Plains narrowmouth toad has lighter overall coloration, unspotted belly, and lacks prominent marks on back.

Great Plains narrowmouth toad Gastrophryne olivacea

RANGE: KS, MO, NE SIZE: 7/8–1 ½ inches DESCRIPTION: Small, plump gray, tan, or olive-tan amphibian with white unspotted belly; no prominent marks on back. Small black spots may be scattered over back and legs. Skin moist, smooth with no warts or ridges. Head small compared to rest of body, very pointed snout. Fold of skin across back of head behind eyes. Legs short, toes lack webbing and toe pads. No external tympanum. HABITAT: Grasslands, rocky and wooded hills, edges of marshes; breeds in roadside ditches, temporary ponds, flooded fields VOICE: High-pitched short peep followed by nasal buzz lasting 1 to 4 seconds, "peep-waaaaaa," similar to the buzz of an angry bee NATURAL HISTORY: Although called a toad, this is actually a frog. When not breeding, this little frog is found in loose soil beneath rocks or in the burrow of other animals, including tarantulas. One of the few amphibians to feed primarily on ants, it uses the fold of skin on the back of its head to keep ants away from its eyes, and its skin produces a toxic substance that protects it from ant bites. Breeds May to early July. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: Eastern narrow-mouth toad has darker overall coloration, spotted or mottled belly, and prominent markings on back.

Fowler's toad Anaxyrus fowleri

RANGE: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, OH SIZE: 2–3 inches DESCRIPTION: Medium gray, brown, or tan toad with warty skin; large dark spots on back arranged in pairs on either side of light stripe down middle of back; and virtually unspotted chest and belly; spots if present are limited to small one on chest. Usually 3 or more warts on each dark spot on back, 2 large digging spurs or spades on heels of hind feet. Warts on upper and lower legs nearly equal in size. Parotoid glands behind eyes touch cranial ridges between eyes. HABITAT: Open woodlands, fields, areas next to marshes with sandy soils; breeds in rivers, ponds, roadside ditches VOICE: Buzzy, nasal trill lasting 1 to 5 seconds, similar to a crying baby. Very similar to Woodhouse's toad but higher in pitch. NATURAL HISTORY: Formerly considered a subspecies of Woodhouse's toad, adult Fowler's toads are active day and night. During dry periods and winter, they burrow underground. Feed on insects, spiders, and earthworms. Breed April to late June. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: American toad has 1 or 2 warts on each of largest spots on back, heavily spotted chest and belly, warts on upper legs smaller than warts on lower legs, parotoid glands separated from cranial ridges or connected by spur. Woodhouse's toad is very similar in appearance but has smaller, irregular dark spots on back that contain 1 to several warts, slightly less well developed cranial ridges. Great Plains toad has cranial ridges between eyes that come together and meet at snout to form raised knob.

Woodhouse's toad Anaxyrus woodhousii woodhousii

RANGE: IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD SIZE: 2 ½–4 inches DESCRIPTION: Medium gray, brown, or tan toad with warty skin; light stripe down middle of back; irregular dark spots on back; and virtually unspotted chest and belly; spots if present are limited to small one on chest. Usually 1 to several warts on each dark spot on back, 2 large digging spurs or spades on heels of hind feet. Warts on upper and lower legs nearly equal in size. Parotoid glands behind eyes touch cranial ridges between eyes. HABITAT: Grasslands, marshes, swales, river bottoms with sandy soils; breeds in rivers, ponds, roadside ditches VOICE: Short, nasal trill lasting 1 to 3 seconds, similar to a crying baby. Very similar to Fowler's toad but lower in pitch. NATURAL HISTORY: Active day and night, this toad may eat as much as 67% of its weight in a single day. During dry periods and winter, it burrows underground. Feeds on spiders and a variety of insects. Breeds April to late June. Tadpoles transform in 1 to 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: American toad has 1 or 2 warts on each of largest spots on back, heavily spotted chest and belly, warts on upper legs smaller than warts on lower legs, parotoid glands separated from cranial ridges or connected by spur. Fowler's toad is very similar in appearance but has larger dark spots on back arranged in pairs on either side of light stripe down middle of back, 3 or more warts on each dark spot on back. Great Plains toad has cranial ridges between eyes that come together and meet at snout to form raised knob.

Boreal chorus frog Pseudacris maculata

Midland chorus frog Pseudacris triseriata

Upland chorus frog Pseudacris feriarum

RANGE: Boreal: IA, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI; midland: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI; upland: IL, IN, MO, OH SIZE: ¾–1 ½ inches DESCRIPTION: Small tan, brown, or gray nonclimbing frog with 3 dark brown or gray stripes down smooth back. Middle stripe may break up into rows of spots. White stripe on upper jaw, dark stripe running from snout through eye. Belly whitish with scattered dark flecks. Toe pads small, no webbing between toes. Boreal chorus frog has short legs, particularly segment below knee; stripes on back are visible or nearly absent; central stripe may be broken; stripes on sides run from snout through eye and end along side of body. Midland chorus frog has longer legs, lower segment longer in relation to rest of leg compared to boreal chorus frog; stripes on back are visible or nearly absent; central stripe is most often solid; stripes on sides run from snout through eye and end before groin. Upland chorus frog may have 3 stripes on back; if present, stripes most often break up into spots; stripes on sides run from snout through eye and into groin.

HABITAT: Marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, roadside ditches VOICE: Series of rapid "creaking" clicks that sound like a thumb rubbing along the stiff teeth of a small comb. Calls both day and night. Males call from edge of water or floating on water, sometimes in large choruses. NATURAL HISTORY: Often the first frogs to be heard calling in spring, sometimes as early as mid March. Males may be seen calling from top of ice or snow. Feed on small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. Breed March to May. Tadpoles transform in approximately 2 months. SIMILAR SPECIES: These three species look and sound nearly identical, but ranges of boreal and upland chorus frogs do not overlap. Boreal chorus frog has shorter legs than midland chorus frog and a central stripe on back that may be broken. Upland chorus frog has stripes on back that most often break up into spots, whereas midland chorus frog has a solid central stripe. Northern spring peeper has X-shaped mark on back. Wood frog is larger and has dorsolateral fold.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Frogs and Toads in your pocket by Terry VanDeWalle Copyright © 2011 by University of Iowa Press. Excerpted by permission of University of Iowa Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Editorial Reviews

Frogs and toads worldwide are endangered, and their biggest threats are human ignorance and indifference. It is also true—ask any kid—that frogs and toads are fascinating animals. Terry VanDeWalle’s attractive and informative laminated guide to the frogs and toads of the Upper Midwest offers a bridge to a newfound knowing and understanding of these fine animals. It says: here are our frogs and toads—they are beautiful and valuable. But it also suggests, by extension, that you should now go out there and look—get a little muddy and rumpled—and discover again what you once knew as a kid.”—Michael J. Lannoo, editor, Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species

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