Green Frog

 

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans )

The green frog is a large frog with large, distinct tympani (eardrums) and two prominent dorsolateral folds (folds of skin that run partly down the back).  

As you can see by the images below, the Green Frog colouration can vary widely from green, bronze, brown or blue and any combination of these colours. Males have a bright yellow throat and tympani that are noticeably larger than the eye. 

Green Frog mating calls are easy to identify with the distinctive single “Glunk” or a short series of 2 or 3 sounding like: “GLUNK glunk glunk”. 

At the start of the mating season, the male green frogs begin with staking out their territories. They will begin calling in late spring to midsummer, and the species breed in July but could breed as late as August. The female clutches of eggs are draped over submerged vegetation in permanent water. The algae-eating tadpoles overwinter in water before transforming the following summer.

 

In the image above, we can easly see the prominent dorsolateral folds that distinguishes them from the similar American Bullfrog. The white chin and the smaller eardrums indicates that this Green Frog is a female.  

   

The above has a much bluer hue than the more traditional green or brown phase.      

   

A male Green Frog expanding his flexible membrane of his chin skin. The purpose of the vocal sac is to amplify the mating call and attract females from further away.

   

Green frogs prefer slow, weedy rivers, ponds, shallow marshed, swamps and calm lakes with lots of aquatic vegetation.