Staunton State Park Closed
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Northern Cricket Frog
A small frog with historic populations in northeastern Colorado.
About This Species
Dark triangle between eyes; large webs between hind toes; whitish marks on upper lip; upper side usually grayish with small irregular dark marks; eardrum small and indistinct; dark stripe on rear of thigh. Mature male: Throat yellowish or dusky; innermost toe of front feet with thickened pad on inner side during breeding season; expanded vocal sac evenly rounded.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Head and body length up to about 38 mm (1.5 inches), adults average about 26–27 mm (1 inch).
Range
Northeastern Colorado. Possibly extirpated, not seen in the state since 1979.
Habitat
Vicinity of sunny, muddy or marshy edges of permanent or semipermanent ponds, reservoirs, and streams, and along irrigation ditches, in pastures and sandhill country.
Reproduction
Breeding call
An accelerating then decelerating “gick-gick-gick” lasting up to 30 seconds and sounding like stones being tapped together.
Larvae
Upper side olive to brown with black mottling; eyes well separated, slightly inside outer margin of head when viewed from above; tail long with low fins (greatest tail height about 10–11 mm, 0.4 inches), fin with bold dark markings and sometimes with dark tip; narrow dark line along upper edge of muscular part of tail; belly white to yellowish, with coiled intestine visible; usually 2 rows of tiny teeth on upper lip, 2-3 rows on lower lip; up to about 4–5 cm (1.6-2.0 inches) long.
Eggs
Deposited singly or in small clusters; float, or stick to submerged plants.
Life History
Lays eggs among aquatic vegetation in spring or early summer. Larvae metamorphose into small frogs usually in about 10-15 weeks, as early as early July. Few of these frogs live more than a year.