KEYS TO FROGS AND TOADS 



WViylit, l'H2); egg diameter 1.4-1.6 mm.; southwestern Oklalionia, north to 

 Custer County, east to Jefferson County: abundant. 



Soutlurn Spadefoot, Scapliiopits coitclui Baird. 



19. Eggs in lof)sc masses roughly suggesting strings joined at various points but with 

 no continuous tube as in Bufo; attacheil loosely near surface to vegetation; enve- 

 lope single, 6.7 mm. in diameter; egg size 2.3 mm. Some masses superficially 

 suggest exceptionally loose plinths of frogs, others- loosely attached egg strings of 

 toads. Eastern half of Oklahoma and on flood plains westward. Not uncommon 

 but rarely seen. Sa\annah Spadefoot, Scaphioptis luirterii Streckcr. 



20. Eggs numerous (up to 3,000); mass globular and tight, 87-100 mm. in diameter; 

 egg color brown and yellow; inner membrane elliptical. Eastern Oklahoma only, 

 rare except in extreme southeast. Pickerel Frog, Rana palustris Le Conte. 



20. Eggs less numerous (usually less than 300); egg mass neither globular nor firm; 

 often quite irregular; inner membrane, if present, not elliptical 21 



21. Eggs mostly floating free at or very near the surface, attached very loosely in a 

 few places to vegetation 22 



21. Egg mass attached beneath surface 23 



22. Outer envelope 3.6-4.0 mm., inner 2.2-3.4 mm. in diameter; extreme southeast 

 only. Rare. Green Tree Toad, Hyla ctucrca cincrea (Schneider). 



22. Outer enxclope 4.0-8.0 mm., inner 1.4-2.0 mm. in tliamcter. Eastern half of Okla- 

 homa. Abundant. Common Tree Toad, Hyla versicolor versicolor (Le Conte)."* 



23. Eggs produced in a mass of smooth outline, lobed, soft and very sticky; attached to 

 vegetation or twigs, typically slanting rather than upright (some exceptions); enve- 

 lope single; egg color grayish brown and quite dark shading to cream or white; egg 

 size slightly variable (1.17-1.26 mm. diameter observed). .^11 parts of state except 

 eastern and western edges 



Texas Ornate Chorus Frog, Psciidacris strec/{eri Wright and Wright. 



23. Not as above 24 



24. Eggs attached near surface; color darker, brown or dark gray shading to yellowish, 

 cream or white 26 



24. Eggs not attached near surface (except in shallow water where they are seldom 

 produced): color lighter (light brown or gray and cream or white); diameter of 

 egg 1.0-1.61 mm 25 



25. Egg mass roughly cylindrical: western one-third of Oklahoma only. Rare. 



Western Spadefoot, Scaphioptis hamtnondii Baird. 



25. Egg mass elliinical; western two-thirds of Oklahoma, east to Tulsa in. north, 

 abundant. Plains Spadefoot, Scaphioptis bomhijrons (Cope). 



26. Envelope dotihle; egg mass small (usually 10-50 eggs); produced not more than 

 2 inches beneath surface; typically attache'd to upright vegetation with one piece 

 passing near center of mass (some exceptions);- eggs noticeably variable in size seen 

 without lens (0,65-1.03 mm. diameter); always in quiet water. Western two-thirds 

 of Oklahoma in grasslands only east to Tulsa in north. 



Spotted Chorus frog, Psetidacris clar/^ii (Baird). 

 26. Envelope single; egg mass small to medium (10-50 eggs); attached nearer surface 

 than bottom except in very shallow water; often on slanting vegetation or twigs 

 (some exceptions), usually with no piece passing near center of mass; eggs less var- 

 iable in size (0.9-1.2 mm.), variation not noticed with naked eye; mostly in quiet 

 water but occasionally in fast flowing streams; abundant in eastern one-third of 

 state. Rare elsewhere. Striped Chorus Frog, Psetidacris triseriata (Wied). 



II. T.\DPOLES 



1. It in the field see 2 



1. If in the laboratory see 18 



^3 



