Lithobates clamitans melanota

Northern green frog

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Amphibia
• Order: Anura
• Family: Ranidae
• Genus: Lithobates
• Species: L. clamitans
• Subspecies: L. c. melanota

Common Names by Region:

• English: Northern green frog
• French: Grenouille verte du Nord
• Spanish: Rana verde del norte

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Description:

• Appearance: Typically green or brown with smooth skin, may have darker spots or blotches. Males have a yellow throat.
• Size: Adults typically range from 2 to 3.5 inches (5 to 9 cm) in body length.

Known Range:

• Habitat: Found near freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, streams, and marshes.
• Geographic Range: Primarily found in North America, ranging from Canada to the eastern United States.

Diet:

• Primary Diet: Insects, spiders, small fish, tadpoles, and other small invertebrates.
• Feeding Behavior: Ambush predators, they wait for prey to pass by before striking.

Breeding:

• Breeding Season: Typically occurs from late spring to early summer.
• Breeding Habitat: Shallow, still waters with ample vegetation.
• Mating Behavior: Males produce mating calls to attract females.
• Egg Deposition: Eggs are laid in clusters attached to vegetation in the water.
• Tadpole Development: Tadpoles hatch from eggs and undergo metamorphosis into froglets.

Lifecycle:

• Egg Stage: Eggs hatch into tadpoles after about 1-3 weeks.
• Tadpole Stage: Tadpoles feed on algae and detritus until they undergo metamorphosis.
• Metamorphosis: Tadpoles develop limbs and absorb their tails to become froglets.
• Adult Stage: Froglets emerge from the water and mature into adult frogs within a few months.