THE AMPHIBIA OF OKLAHOMA 



to Washington County in north. Habitat: grasslands and very open savan- 

 nahs, never in true woodlands and seldom in lower areas of large flood plains. 

 Breeding: in shallow grassy pools, March to August, only after rain; not in- 

 hibited by near freezing temperatures. Eggs: in small masses attached just 

 below surface on upright vegetation, usually notably variable in size. Tad- 

 poles: a few days after hatching almost square in appearance with eyes seem- 

 ingly on stalks (an illusion due to a very transparent skin). Older tadpoles 

 are not easily distinguished from Ps. triseriata and Ps. strecXeri. The former 

 has a mottled tail, something not true of either Ps. clar}(ii or Ps. strecheri. 

 Ps. clarl{ii has greater tendency to float at surface, whereas Ps. strecl{eri tends 

 to work up plant stems and is more shy. Descriptions: eggs and larvae, Bragg 

 (1943); adults, Smith (1934), Wright and Wright (1942). 



16. Psetidacris strec\eri Wright and Wright (Texas Ornate Chorus Frog) 



Distribution: known in a broad diagonal band bounded by a line from 

 Kay to Greer counties in the west and from Cherokee to Marshall counties 

 in the east. Unknown elsewhere in the state, but may occur. Habitat: ecolog- 

 ically unrestricted where known. Breeding: late winter and early spring (ob- 

 served from January 1 to early May); gready favored by early rains, but not 

 affected by rains in late spring and summer. Breeding sites include all sorts 

 of temporary pools of shallow water as well as small tanks up to four feet in 

 depth. Eggs: gray or brown and cream or white attached to twigs or other 

 support, sometimes six inches or more beneath the surface, more often not 

 more than two inches beneath it. Tadpoles: very shy at all ages, tending to 

 hide in algal mats or other cover. Older tadpoles in warm pools tend to float 

 lazily at the surface and to feed while working up plant stems. At the least 

 disturbance, even by a shadow cast upon them, they flit downward to hide. 

 Descriptions: eggs and larvae, Bragg (1942); adult, Wright and Wright 

 (1933 the original description which is repeated in the second edition of the 

 same work, 1942). 



17. Pseudacris triseriata (Wied) (Striped Chorus Frog) 



Distribution: probably state-wide but known only in eastern half of state. 

 Habitat: very abundant in woodlands, common in tall grass prairie, rare in 

 mixed prairie. Present in short-grass plains in Texas Panhandle and New 

 Mexico, hence probably in similar ecological regions of Oklahoma, but if so 

 it is rare for it is usually displaced by Ps. clarf{ii from central Oklahoma west- 

 ward in grassland. Breeding: very versatile in breeding sites, typically shallow, 

 temporary pools in which vegetation protrudes, but edges of deep tanks, lakes, 

 rivers, and creeks as well as playas (in Texas) are also utilized. Recently in 

 eastern Oklahoma, I found its eggs in a shallow, very clear, fast-flowing 

 stream with a coarse gravel bottom. Breeding tends to follow rains from 

 February to August, but some individuals breed in low swampy lands in 

 early spring when no rain has occurred for weeks. Eggs: brown and white 

 or cream (occasionally darker, according to Wright and Wright, 1942); 

 masses attached to vegetation sometimes in small packets, oiten in larger 



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