At Frogs Are Green, we’ve posted about tomato red frogs, blue frogs, and yellow-and-black spotted frogs, but I don’t think we’ve ever written about the Green Frog (Rana clamitans).
Green frog camouflaged in grass. Photo by Mary Jo Rhodes
Recently I visited my sister, who lives in the woods in Connecticut. On our first night, there was heavy downpour. When I woke the next morning, I heard what sounded like someone plucking a loose banjo string. Coming from the city, I was thrilled: it was my welcome call from a Green Frog outside! My sister has built a couple of frog/koi ponds on her property. Although fish and frogs aren’t supposed to co-exist (fish eat the frogs’ eggs), somehow it has worked out.
Frog pond in CT
The Green Frog is mainly aquatic, but they often rest by the side of the pond, leaping in when danger approaches. Males have a tympanum (external hearing structure) twice the diameter of the eye and a bright yellow throat.
Green Frog. Notice the large eardrum behind his eye. Photo by Mary Jo Rhodes.
Green frog in reeds. Photo by Mary Jo Rhodes
You might see Green Frogs in ponds, lakes, and swamps—they are one of the most common frogs in the eastern U.S.
Just in case you’re out in the country this summer, here is what it sounds like:
My son LOVES frogs. We live in CT and seeing the tadpoles in our little pond brings smiles to face. We love hearing them talk to each other and we love having them in our backyard.
Hi Tammy, How marvelous! I hope your son will create some Frog Art and enter the next Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest which will open on September 2, 2014. Also, each Fall there are two photography contests, so you might want to take some images and enter “backyard frogs.” Be sure to follow on Facebook and feel free to share pictures! – Susan