BREEDING HABITS OF AMPHIBIA 



31 



FROGS 



ACE IS GEYLLUS , the cricket frog: This frog is found largely In the 

 Central States, from Michigan to Dakota and south to Texas. It ia 

 very small, the head and body never measuring more than l■^• inches. 

 The toes of the hind limbs are webbed. While the color varies 

 there is always a triangular mark between the eyes and a dark ob- 

 lique stripe on the side of the body. The male's throat skin ia 

 grayish-yellow, and its fingers are shorter and body smaller than 

 that of the female. 



Breeding takes place in shallow, plant-filled water during May 

 to July. The eggs are laid singly axii are attached to stems and 

 twigs. Metamorphosis occurs about the middle of September. 



HYLA CRUCIFEE , the Spring Peeper. This small frog is found all 



along the eastern coast and abundantly in Florida. The adults /n™,v-t „ n n d„^ 



, , ^ -, /n . , , -. ^,X.i T_ jj-uii-i I Courtesy C. a. Pope 

 rarely exceed 1 5/8 inches in length but may be recognized by their j^qi^j^. chica«o Mus 

 high, shrill, clear call so frequently heard in the spring during j^^ Hist ) 

 breeding. There is an oblique cross on the back, the general color 



being brown of various shades. The digits are not webbed as they are in the genus Eana, 

 but the tips of the toes have discs for climbing on smooth surfaces. The thumb of the 

 male bears a pad on Ita Inner surface, the chin and throat are loose and dark and the males 

 are always smaller than the females. 



Acrls gryllus, 

 the cricket frOfi,. 



Hyla crucifer, 

 the spring peeper 



Tl.e spring peeper's eggs at- 

 taclied to the submerged stem 

 of a plant. After Wri^lit. 



(Courtesy C. H. Pope l^kk: Chicago Mus. Nat. Hist.) 



Breeding normally occurs in April when the temperature is about 52°F. The eggs (about 

 1,000) are layed singly at night while the pair is floating at the surface of the pond. 

 The male inseminates each egg as it emerges from the cloaca of the female. The eggs are 

 small, about 1.0 in diameter, and are generally dark in color. Each egg is surrounded by 

 firm jelly. Hatching occurs in h to l6 days depending upon the water temperature, and 

 temperature tolerance ia from about '+2°F. to 85°F. Metamorphosis is reached in 90 to 100 

 days, occurring in July. The eggs are excellent for operative procedures. The tadpoles 

 live on diatoms and algae while the adults feed on insects and spiders. Can be fed Droao- 

 phila in the laboratory (preferably the veatigial mutant). 



