North Carolina Tadpole Key 125 



27. Jaws wide and rounded; tail musculature unicolored Hyla gratiosa (part) 



Jaws narrow and angular; tail musculature bicolored 



Pseudacris ornata (part) 



28. Dorsal fin originates anterior to spiracle 29 



Dorsal fin originates at or posterior to spiracle 31 



29. Fins clear or with few stellate melanophores; fins rounded; dorsal fin higher 



than ventral fin 30 



Fins and tail musculature mottled or reticulated; fins tapering toward the tail 

 tip; dorsal and ventral fins equal in height Hyla cinerea 



30. Jaws wide and rounded; dorsum of tail musculature usually with black saddle 

 slightly anterior to midlength; tail musculature 



unicolored Hyla gratiosa (part) 



Jaws narrow and angled; no black saddle on dorsum of tail musculature; tail 

 musculature bicolored Pseudacris ornata (part) 



31. Fins and tail musculature mottled or reticulated; body somewhat globular; 



snout square when viewed dorsally Hyla crucifer (part) 



Fins and tail musculature clear or with a few stellate melanophores; body 

 somewhat depressed; snout round when viewed dorsally 32 



32. Body dark brassy in life; dorsal fin terminates far posterior to 



spiracle Pseudacris brachyphona 



Body color not dark brassy; dorsal fin terminates at or slightly posterior to 

 spiracle 33 



33. Dorsal fin higher than ventral fin and equal to tail musculature 



height Pseudacris triseriata (part) 



Fins subequal and both lower than musculature 



height Pseudacris nigrita 



34. Four or more rows of teeth on anterior or posterior 



labium Rana sylvatica (part) 



Less than four rows of teeth on both anterior and posterior labium 35 



35. A-2 gap ratio greater than 1.5; dorsal fin originates at or only slightly posterior 



to spiracle Rana sylvatica (part) 



A-2 gap ratio variable; dorsal fin originates far posterior to spiracle 36 



36. Lower jaw wide; nostrils medium to large; skin thin, gut visible, with weakly 

 pigmented belly in larger specimens; small animals uniform in color, even when 



preserved Rana pipiens group: 37 



Lower jaw narrow; nostrils small; skin thick; gut usually not visible, with 

 strongly pigmented belly in larger animals; small animals with gold transverse 

 bands on anterior part of body, appearing unevenly pigmented when 

 preserved Rana catesbeiana group: 39 



37. A-2 gap ratio 2 or more; P-l/P-3 length ratio 1.3 or greater. . . Rana palustris 

 A-2 gap ratio less than 2; P-l / P-3 length ratio less than 1.5 38 



38. No keratinized areas at medial tips of P-l; A-2 gap ratio often greater than 1.0; 



color variable Rana sphenocephala 



Keratinized areas present at medial tips of P-l; A-2 gap ratio always less than 

 1 .0; color usually dark Rana areolata 



39. Tail musculature unicolored or mottled, but not striped; fins clear or mottled, 



but not in any particular pattern 41 



Tail musculature distinctly bicolored or striped; fins either striped (or with a 

 row of dots) or marked around edges 40 



