Mountain Chorus Frog

Mountain Chorus Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Pseudacris
Species:	P. brachyphona
Binomial name
Pseudacris brachyphona (Cope, 1889)

The Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) is a species of frog in the Hylidae family. It is endemic to the United States. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, freshwater springs, ponds, open excavations, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Physical Characteristics

The Mountain chorus frog is a small frog, but an intermediate size for the Genus of Pseudacris. It consists of different shades of grey or brown, including sorghum brown, deep brownish drab, or mars brown. They are stocky in the body and broader in the head, which is very close to the structure and size of Hyla femoralis or commonly known as a Pine Woods tree frog. The adult frog grows anywhere from 1-1 3/8 inches. The males are usually between 24-32 mm and the females are 27-34 mm. The Mountain Chorus frog has a unique triangle between the eyes and a white line on the upper lip. Something that is unique in the male is that they have a dark throat.

Habitat

The Mountain chorus frog can usually be found on the hillsides of southwestern Pennsylvania, Western Maryland, Southeastern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, Northern Alabama, Northern Mississippi and in Tennessee. They like to live on springy hillsides, grassy pools, and ditches. They typically live a distance away from water. The wooded hillsides that the frogs live on are up to 3,500 feet in elevation.

Vocalization

The Mountain Chorus frog has a unique call. It is a faster, higher note, and holds a distinct quality and form. The repetitions are quicker and the pitch higher. When a whole chorus of them are heard, you can tell them apart from other groups. The Mountain Chorus Frog's call has a rate of 50 to 70 times a minute and can be continued for several minutes, though they usually stop in fifteen to twenty seconds. This distinct call is rapid and can be heard on a clear night up to a quarter mile away (Wright, 230/231). Their voice has a bit of a nasal quality to it and sounds like a wagon wheel turning that needs oil. It is a harsh, raspy "wreeck" or "reek" sound.

Taxonomy

Mountain Chorus frogs are part of the family Hylidae, also known as the tree frogs. Tree frogs are one of the largest families in the Salientia order. Because they are so colorful and have many acrobatic talents, they have been called the "clowns and high-wire artists of the amphibian world. Another impressive talent that the tree frogs inherit, is their beautiful sounds making them excellent vocalists. There are almost 500 species of tree frogs and they are found all over the world. You can find them in tropical regions and all the way to the Canadian woods, and Australia. They are found in places that toads are usually found.

Breeding

The Mountain Chorus Frog breeds in February through April. The female will lay eggs in small, shallow bodies of water which can be in the woods or water ways near the woods. If the frog lives near the base of a hill, it will lay eggs in ditches, pools along streams, or springs. The eggs are laid in groups of 10 to 50. They attach to vegetation and will total about 500 eggs. The tadpole stage lasts for about 50 to 56 days. Once the tadpoles reach 8 mm, they will transform into frogs.

Food

Mountain Chorus frogs feed off of invertebrates such as insects because they do not climb much, and if they do it's into the weeds after insects.

Bibliography

1. Knapp, Walter W. . "Mountain Chorus Frog." The Frogs & Toads of Georgia. 09 Sept 2006. 27 Oct 2007 <http://wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/docs/mountain.chorus.frog.html>.

2. Mattison, Chris. Frogs and Toads of the World. New York: Facts on File, Inc, 1987.

3. "Mountain Chorus Frog." Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 30 Jan 2007. 27 Oct 2007 <http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/speciesguide_default/mountainchorusfrog/tabid/6689/Default.aspx>.

4. Simon, Hilda. Frogs and Toads of the World. New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1975.

5. "Virginia Wildlife Information." Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. 19 Nov. 2007. <http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/species/display.asp?id=020011>.

6. Wright, Albert Hazen , and Anna Allen Hazen. Handbook of Frogs and Toads. 3rd. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Company, Inc., 1949.

• Hammerson, G. 2004. Pseudacris brachyphona. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 22 July 2007.