amphibians of ohio field guide

8/12/2019 Amphibians of Ohio Field Guide

1/48

AMPHIBIANS OF OHIO f i e l d g u i d eDIVISION OF WILDLIFE


2/48

Amphibians are typically shy, secre-tive animals. While a few amphibiansare relatively large, most are small, deli-cately attractive, and brightly colored.That some of these more vulnerable spe-cies survive at all is cause for wonder.

Nearly 200 million years ago, amphib-ians were the first creatures to emergefrom the seas to begin life on land. Theterm amphibian comes from the Greekamphi, which means dual, and bios,

meaning life. While it is true that manyamphibians live a double life spend-ing part of their lives in water and therest on land some never go into thewater and others never leave it.

All amphibians are cold-bloodedanimals with a soft, glandular, oftenmoist skin which is capable of absorb-ing oxygen into the body. Amphibiansdont drink water rather they absorb itthrough their skin.

Unlike reptiles, their skin is not scaly.Nor do they have claws on their toes.Most amphibians prefer to come out atnight.

The young undergo what is knownas metamorphosis. They pass througha larval, usually aquatic, stage beforedrastically changing form and becomingadults.

Ohio is fortunate in having many spe-cies of amphibians. Although generallyinconspicuous most of the year, duringthe breeding season, especially follow-ing a warm, early spring rain, amphib-ians appear in great numbers seeminglyout of nowhere. Those which migrate inmass to the breeding grounds are oftenkilled in large numbers trying to crossroads. Fortunately, however, nature forthe most part has endowed these littleanimals with the ability to reproduce ingreat numbers.

Amphibian eggs must remain moist ifthey are to hatch. The eggs do not haveshells but rather are covered with a jelly-like substance. Amphibians lay eggs sin-gly, in masses, or in strings in the wateror in some other moist place.

As with all Ohio wildlife, the onlyreal threat to their continued existenceis habitat degradation and destruction.Only by conserving suitable habitat to-day will we enable future generations to

study and enjoy Ohios amphibians.

INTRODUCTION


3/48

3

Table Of CONTeNTs

O H I O D E P A R T M E N T O F N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E S

D I V I S I O N O F W I L D L I F E

E N D A N G E R E D Eastern Hellbender

523 Northern Slimy SalamanderCommon Mudpuppy 6 24 Spring Salamander

Red-spotted Newt 7 25 Four-toed SalamanderStreamside Salamander 8 26 Midland Mud Salamander

Jefferson Salamander 9 27 Northern Red SalamanderE N D A N G E R E D Blue-spotted Salamander 10 29 American Toad

Spotted Salamander 11 30 Fowlers ToadMarbled Salamander 12 31 Eastern Spadefoot E N D A N G E R E D

Small-mouthed Salamander 13 32 Eastern Cricket Frog

Eastern Tiger Salamander 14 33 Mountain Chorus FrogE N D A N G E R E D Green Salamander 15 34 Spring Peeper

Northern Two-lined Salamander 16 35 Western Chorus FrogSouthern Two-lined Salamander 16 36 Copes Gray Treefrog

Long-tailed Salamander 17 36 Gray TreefrogE N D A N G E R E D Cave Salamander 18 37 American Bullfrog

Northern Dusky Salamander 19 38 Northern Green FrogAllegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander 20 39 Pickerel Frog

Eastern Red-backed Salamander 21 40 Northern Leopard Frog

Northern Ravine Salamander 22 41 Wood Frog


4/48


5/48

5

easTeRN HellbeNDeR C r y p t o b r a n c h u s a l l e g a n i e n s i s Length 111/2 27 in. (30-51 cm.)

In spite of its formidable appear-ance, the Eastern Hellbender is quiteharmless. Hellbenders can reach 27in length making it the largest am-

phibian in the state. Found mostlyin unglaciated (south and east) Ohio,Hellbenders prefer large, swift flow-ing streams where they hide duringthe day under large rocks.

Although Hellbenders have lungs,the major organ of oxygen/carbon di-oxide exchange is the loose wrinkledskin. Adult Hellbenders do not have

gills but they do have a single gill slitlocated on each side of the neck. Theybreed in late August or September.The female lays up to 500 eggs in anest the male excavates under a largeflat rock. Sometimes several femalesuse the same nest. Hellbenders differfrom other salamanders in that themale does not fertilize the eggs untilafter they have been laid. Young Hell-

benders hatch in two to three monthsand retain their gills until they areabout 11/2years old.

E N D A N G E R E D

F a m i l y C r y p

t o b r a n c h i d a e


6/48

6

COMMON MUDpUppy N e c t u r u s m a c u l o s u s Length 813 in. (20-33 cm.)

Mudpuppies inhabit Lake Erie,large rivers, and streams, through-out Ohio. Since they are essentiallynocturnal and will tolerate deep,

muddy water, they are seldom seen.They feed on crayfish, aquatic insects,and just about anything else they canscavenge. Notice the broad, flattenedhead, the distinctive, squarish snout,tiny inconspicuous eyes, and thebushy red gills. These give the mud-puppy a sinister appearance. Despitetheir looks, Mudpuppies are com-pletely harmless to people.

Young Mudpuppies mature whenthey are about five years old andeight inches long. They never un-dergo complete metamorphosis andretain their gills throughout life.

F a m i l y P r o t e i d a e


7/48

Red Eft (immature newt)

7

ReD-spOTTeD NewT N o t o p h t h a l m u s v i r i d e s c e n s Length 3 4 in. (7.5-10 cm.)

Although most salamanders do not becomeland dwellers until they have reached a terres-trial juvenile stage, just the opposite is true withnewts. About three or four months after hatch-

ing, the tiny larva loses its gills, acquires lungs,and begins life on land in the Red Eft immaturestate. Unlike the adult newt, the efts bright red-orange skin is somewhat dry and rough. Its tailis rounded, much like a lizards, rather thanwedge-shaped.

During the next two to three years, it will for-age on the forest floor, often wandering aboutduring the day, especially during or just after a

rain. Although it is conspicuous during this RedEft stage, other animals seldom bother it becauseits skin glands produce irritating secretions.

During the third year of its life, a remarkabletransition occurs. The skin becomes slimy andchanges from orange to olive green. The tail be-comes broad and wedge-shaped, and the bodylooks more like that of a salamander than a liz-ard. At this point, the salamander returns to wa-ter to breed and remains there for the rest of its

life as a mature Red-spotted Newt.

Newts occur sporadically throughout ourstate in permanent or semi-permanent bodiesof water bordered by relatively undisturbedwoodlands.

F a m i l y S a l a m a n d r i d a e


8/48

8

sTReaMsIDe salaMaNDeR A m b y s t o m a b a r b o u r iLength 41/2 51/2 in. (11.5-14 cm.)

It is almost identical to the Small-mouthed Salamander in appearance,but differs in several small, importantcharacteristics. Unlike most members

of this family, the streamside prefersto breed in headwater streams lack-ing predatory fish, rather than ponds.Eggs are attached singly to the un-derside of rocks in the stream. TheStreamside Salamander occurs onlyin southwestern Ohio and is oftenseen crossing roads to enter streamsin February and March.

F a m i l y A m b y s t o m a t i d a e


9/48

9

JeffeRsON salaMaNDeR A m b y s t o m a j e f f e r s o n i a n u mLength 41/2 7 in. (11.5-17.5 cm.)

This salamander looks somewhatlike the spotted salamander specieswithout the yellow spots. Notice,however, the long toes and the sprin-

kling of small silver-blue specks con-centrated on the sides of the body onyounger specimens.

It lives in moist woodlandsthroughout most of the state. It isvery secretive and seldom seen ex-cept in early spring when it entersshallow woodland breeding ponds.

The Jefferson Salamander was

named in honor of Jefferson College,and hence, indirectly for Thomas Jef-ferson. He was not only a famousstatesman and president, but wasalso an accomplished naturalist. F

a m i l y A m b y s t o m a t i d a e


10/48

E N D A N G E R E D

10

blUe-spOTTeD salaMaNDeR A m b y s t o m a l a t e r a l e Length 4 6 in. (10-15 cm.)

The Blue-spotted Salamander veryclosely resembles the Jefferson Sala-mander in appearance. However, itcan usually be identified by a profu-sion of blue flecks on its bluish-blackbody. This produces an impressionof the coloration of old-fashionedenamelware. The Jefferson Salaman-der has relatively few bluish flecksand these are, for the most part, con-fined along the creatures sides. Blue-spotted Salamanders are only foundin a few locations in extreme north-western counties. The Blue-spotted

Salamander is part of a complex ofall-female populations that have ge-netic contributions from two or morespecies, including Jefferson, Small-mouthed, and (occasionally) TigerSalamanders. These individuals oftenhave more than the usual two sets ofchromosomes and outward charac-teristics of one or more of these spe-cies. All of these unisexual salaman-

ders have some of the genes of theBlue-spotted Salamander, however,so some amount of blue-flecking isoften visible.



11/48

11

spOTTeD salaMaNDeR A m b y s t o m a m a c u l a t u mLength 6 73/4 in. (15-20 cm.)

Spotted Salamanders are foundthroughout Ohio in low-lying moistwoodlands adjacent to swamps,ponds, and creeks. Because of their

secretive nature and their love fortunneling underground, they areseldom seen except in early spring.Then they migrate in large numbersto breeding ponds. Even then, theyare active only at night. Often theonly evidence of their presence is afist-sized egg mass containing lessthan 100 eggs which is attached to asubmerged stick or plant. How does a

six-inch salamander pass a fist-sizedegg mass? The eggs are not that largewhen laid, but the jelly-like substancethat covers them swells when theeggs come in contact with the water.

This large, chunky salamanderhas two irregular rows of yellow orgreenish-yellow spots. Occasionally,the spots on the back of the head are

orange.



12/48

12

MaRbleD salaMaNDeRA m b y s t o m a o p a c u mLength 31/2 41/2 in. (9-11.5 cm.)

The males bright white bands ona black body and the females gray-ish-white on black make this one ofour more distinctively marked sala-

manders. However, a rare individ-ual may lack the white bands whichcomplicates an otherwise easy identi-fication. Marbled Salamanders maketheir homes in a variety of habitatsfrom dry wooded slopes to moistsandy areas. They are fond of hid-ing under rocks and logs on woodedslopes, sometimes in surprisingly dryplaces. Marbled Salamanders are dis-

tributed along some of the lakeshorecounties, but are more common insouthern Ohio.

Marbled Salamanders breed inthe fall. They migrate to low-lyingwooded areas and swamps to per-form their courtship. They differ fromother mole salamanders in that theircourtship takes place on land rather

than in water. Females lay eggs underlogs or other debris along the sides ofdried up temporary ponds. The fe-male remains with the eggs until theautumn rains refill the pool, causingthe eggs to hatch.



13/48

13

sMall-MOUTHeD salaMaNDeR A m b y s t o m a t e x a n u m Length 41/2 71/2 in. (11.5-14 cm.)

Named for its conspicuously smallmouth, this animal also has a relative-ly small, narrow head. Its dark earth-tone color may be accented with light

flecks of pigment, especially along itssides and bottom.

The Small-mouthed Salamanderis one of the least particular in itschoice of habitat. It can be found in

just about any situation throughoutall but the extreme eastern edge of thestate, and like most members of thisfamily it breeds in temporary pondsand wetlands.



14/48


15/48

E N D A N G E R E D

15

GReeN salaMaNDeR A n e i d e s a e n e u sLength 31/4 5 in. (8-13 cm.)

One of our more interesting sala-manders, the Green Salamander, islimited in Ohio to a very few rockledges in Adams, Lawrence and

Scioto counties. It prefers the deepmoist cracks in otherwise mostlydry limestone and sandstone cliffs.Its flattened head and body are wellsuited for moving about in such tightplaces. Here the Green Salamander-spends the day hiding, but as nightapproaches, it ventures out onto theface of the cliff and adjacent trees insearch of food.

The tiny, round eggs number from10 to 20 and are laid in late summerwithin crevices of the cliff. The femalestays with the eggs until they hatch,but shows little or no parental care.

This salamander is rare in Ohioand is listed as endangered by the Di-vision of Wildlife. This is a secretivespecies and additional populations

are occasionally discovered.

F a m i l y P l e

t h o d o n t i d a e


16/48


17/48


18/48

E N D A N G E R E D

18

Cave salaMaNDeR E u r y c e a l u c i f u g aLength 4-6 in. (10-15 cm.)

The Cave Salamander occurs inAdams, Hamilton and Butler coun-ties. Because of its highly limited oc-currence in Ohio, the Cave Salaman-

der is one of the four salamandersgiven protection as an endangeredspecies by the Division of Wildlife.

As the name implies, this amphib-ian prefers the dimly lighted zonenear the entrance of wet limestonecaves. However, it may also be en-countered in wooded areas or alongstreams with a connection to ground-water, far removed from any knowncaves.

Cave Salamanders are similar inappearance to the Long-tailed Sala-mander, but Cave Salamanders aremore reddish and have no verticalblack markings on the sides of thetail.

F a m i l y P l e

t h o d o n t i d a e


19/48


20/48

20

alleGHeNy MOUNTaIN DUsky salaMaNDeRLength 23/4 4 in. (7-10 cm.)

Although easily confused with itsclose cousin the Northern Dusky Sal-amander, the Mountain Dusky Sala-mander has a rounded rather than a

wedge-shaped tail. Also, look for thelight tan or brownish stripe down theback, bordered on either side by ablack or very dark brown line. Oftenthere is a row of dark V-shaped spotsrunning down the center of the back.Older specimens may be very darkand lack any pattern whatsoever.

Although they are reported to besomewhat more land-dwelling thanmost other species of dusky salaman-ders, they are normally found in thesame habitat as the Northern Duskyand the Northern Two-lined Sala-manders. In Ohio, Allegheny Moun-tain Dusky Salamanders are restrict-ed to the extreme northeastern cornerof the state.

F a m i l y P l e t h o d o n t i d a e

D e s m o g n a t h u s o c h r o p h a e u s


21/48

21

easTeRN ReD-baCkeD salaMaNDeR P l e t h o d o n c i n e r e u sLength 21/4 35/8 in. (6-9 cm.)

This is a small, slender salamanderwhich, unlike most other salaman-ders, has three distinct color phases.In the red-striped phase, a broad red-dish-brown stripe bordered by darkpigment runs down the salamandersback; in the leadback phase, the ani-mal is dark gray or gray-black. A redphase is restricted to northeasternOhio.

Found throughout the state, theRed-backed Salamander is most of-ten seen in early spring beneath rocksand logs, especially on floodplains.

Both red-striped and leadback phasesmay occur together.

This salamander is entirely land-dwelling and usually will not go towater even to breed. The eggs are laidin summer, hanging like a miniaturecluster of grapes from the undersideof a moist log or rock. The larvae passthrough most of their gill-breathing

stage while in the egg. When the eggshatch in late summer, the gills havedecreased significantly. Within 24to 48 hours after hatching, the gillsshrivel up and are barely noticeable.



22/48

22

NORTHeRN RavINe salaMaNDeR P l e t h o d o n e l e c t r o m o r p h u sLength 3 41/2 in. (7.5-11.5 cm.)

The Northern Ravine Salaman-der occurs in much of southern andeastern Ohio. As the name implies, itprefers the moist slopes of woodedravines where it can be found hidingbeneath rocks and logs. Like othermembers of this genus, its complete-ly land-dwelling. Its eggs are evenlaid and hatched on land. Althoughfrequently encountered in spring andfall, the Northern Ravine Salamanderis seldom seen in midsummer whenits buried deep in the ground seek-ing moisture.

At first glance, the Northern Ra-vine Salamander looks quite a bit likethe leadback phase of the Red-backedSalamander. However, closer exami-nation will reveal that its belly is aplain dark color and not mottled withblack and white specks like those ofthe Red-backed Salamander.



23/48

23

NORTHeRN slIMy salaMaNDeR P l e t h o d o n g l u t i n o s u s Length 43/4 63/4 in. (12-17 cm.)

The Northern Slimy Salamandermainly inhabits the unglaciated east-ern and southern portion of the stateand some areas near the glacial bor-der. Here it likes to hide under or inrotting logs and stumps. Althoughentirely land-dwelling, it prefers adamp habitat. Moisture is essen-tial for all lungless salamanders. Itbreathes by means of its moist skinand the lining of the mouth cavity.

The Northern Slimy Salamander isappropriately named. Its skin secre-tions are exceptionally slimy. When

handled, the secretions dry on handsas a dark film that is very difficultto wash off. These secretions deterwould-be predators, such as a ring-necked snake.



24/48

24

spRING salaMaNDeR G y r i n o p h i l u s p o r p h y r i t i c u sLength 43/4 7 in. (12-18 cm.)

The status of Spring Salamandersin southeastern Ohio is still somewhatunsettled. There are two different racesoccurring in our state, both of whichare uncommon. The Kentucky SpringSalamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticusduryi) has been reported from Adams,Highland, Pike, and Scioto countiesand is a well defined race. The North-ern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophi-lus porphyriticus porphyriticus) occursthroughout southeastern counties aswell as in Hamilton County.

All Spring Salamanders prefer to

live in clear woodland brooks andsprings where they hide under largeflat stones. Occasionally they may befound hiding under objects in neigh-boring woodlands, but always in wetplaces. Larvae are more commonlyseen than adults. Adults are known tofeed on other salamanders, but littleelse is known about their life histories.

Both races of Spring Salamandershave a conspicuous light and dark linerunning from the eye to the nostril. Thespring salamanders might be confusedwith the red and mud salamanders;however, they have no such dark line.


H i d t l i t t


25/48

25

fOUR-TOeD salaMaNDeRH e m i d a c t y l i u m s c u t a t u mLength 2 3 in. (5-7.5 cm.)

Although this salamander rangesthroughout all of Ohio, it is irregu-larly distributed and rare over muchof this range.

All salamanders have four toes ontheir front feet except the Mudpuppyand the Four-toed Salamander other salamanders have five toes. TheFour-toed Salamander is also readilyidentified by its striking snow-whitebelly, boldly speckled with black.

The Four-toed Salamander usuallylives close to boggy woodland ponds

and swamps where it hides beneathmoss, logs, rocks, slabs of bark andeven leaves. Here it lays its eggs inearly spring and remains with themuntil they hatch. The tiny larvaewriggle their way into the water andremain there until completing meta-morphosis later that summer. Four-toed Salamanders often overwinterinside of rotting logs, sometimes in

very large congregations.


MIDlaND MUD salaMaNDeR P d t i t t d i t i t


26/48

26

MIDlaND MUD salaMaNDeR P s e u d o t r i t o n m o n t a n u s d i a s t i c t u sLength 31/2 6 in. (9-15 cm.)

Midland Mud Salamanders aremost often encountered under large,flat stones along shallow, sluggishwoodland streams, springs, andseeps. As implied by their name, theyindeed seem to prefer muddy areas.

In Ohio, this species is somewhatuncommon and is limited to a fewcounties in the extreme southern partof the state.

Although easily confused with theNorthern Red Salamander, the MudSalamander normally has a brown

rather than yellow iris and a fewblack spots.


NORTHeRN ReD salaMaNDeR P s e u d o t r i t o n r u b e r r u b e r


27/48

27

NORTHeRN ReD salaMaNDeR P s e u d o t r i t o n r u b e r r u b e rLength 41/4 6 in. (11-15 cm.)

The Northern Red Salamanderstands out from most of the otherlarge, red-colored salamanders foundin Ohio because of its distinctive,bright yellow-gold iris and its stoutbody.

Northern Reds can be located un-der logs, moss, and rocks in andaround cold, clean springs and ad-

jacent brooks. With the exception ofa small colony reported in the vicin-ity of Cincinnati, these salamandersoccur only in the eastern half of thestate.

Although adults are usually a strik-ing bright red with scattered blackdots, old specimens are less brightlycolored, often somewhat purplish.


FROGS AND TOADS


28/48

Attention!

Southern Leopard Frogs have beendocumented in Athens and LawrenceCounties in the 1960s and Scioto Coun-ty in 2008. If you find one please take aphoto and submit data to the Divisionof Wildlife. You have found some-

thing very special!

28

FROGS AND TOADS

Scientifically speaking, onlymembers of the family Ranidae aretrue frogs. In Ohio, this includes the:

Ranidae -Bullfrog, Green Frog,

Leopard Frog, Pickerel Frog, andWood Frog.

Hylidae - Gray Treefrogs, ChorusFrogs, Spring Peeper, and Crick-et Frog.

Scaphiopodidae- Spadefoot

In general, frogs tend to have moist,relatively smooth skin and leap. Toadshave dry, warty skin and hop. Toadsare members of the family Bufonidae.Toads have erroneously long beenblamed for causing warts and havebeen associated with witchcraft sinceearliest times.

In reality, toads are extremely ben-eficial to man. Toads eat slugs, earth-worms, sowbugs, and a wide varietyof insects and their larvae. One report

estimated that an average toad eats al-most 10,000 harmful insects during athree-month period.

The bumps that appear to be wartsare actually glands. All of them pro-duce a liquid that burns the sensitivemouth tissues of other animals. Thisis especially true of the large bump

behind each eye-the parotoid gland.Most predators quickly drop a toadbecause of this irritation and learn toavoid the toad in the future. Toadsmay also expel water from their blad-der when they are picked up. Bothsubstances are completely harmlessto people, though they can burn themouth and eyes.

aMeRICaN TOaD A n a x y r u s a m e r i c a n u s


29/48

29

aMeRICaN TOaD A n a x y r u s a m e r i c a n u sLength 2 31/2 in. (5-9 cm.)

American Toads are common inOhio from urban backyards to re-mote woodlands. In spring, theycongregate in large numbers in justabout every available shallow breed-

ing pond.

Their courtship activities go onnight and day for a month or more.Then the toads abandon the pondsabruptly, leaving behind long strandsof eggs. One female may lay as manyas 12,000 eggs. These soon hatch intotiny, jet-black tadpoles. By early June,they transform into pea-size toads

that emerge from the ponds by thethousands.

There have been reports of Ameri-can Toads living to be 30 years of age.

American Toads tend to have one,two, or three warts in each of the darkdorsal spots. Fowlers Toads general-ly have three or more warts in each ofthe larger dorsal spots.

F a m i l y

B u f o n i d a e

fOwleRs TOaD A n a x y r u s f o w l e r i


30/48

30

fOwleRs TOaD A n a x y r u s f o w l e r iLength 2 3 in. (5-7.5 cm.)

This toad was named in honor ofS. P. Fowler, an early naturalist fromMassachusetts. It appears to be verysimilar to the American Toad, butthere are several differences. Fowlers

Toads have a single dark spot on thechest and belly while the chest andbelly of the American Toad is usuallyspotted with a dark pigment. Thereare no greatly enlarged warts on thethighs of a Fowler s Toad as there areon the American Toad. The Fowlerssong is an unmusical nasal w-a-a-a-hlasting from one to four seconds.The American Toads song is a high-pitched musical trill lasting from sixto 30 seconds.

As with the American Toad, Fowl-ers Toads range throughout thestate, but seem to prefer a more sandyhabitat than do American Toads. Thematter is further complicated becausethe two toads may cross-breed witheach other.

F a m i l y B u f o n i d a e

easTeRN spaDefOOT S c a p h i o p u s h o l b r o o k i i


31/48

E N D A N G E R E D

31

easTeRN spaDefOOT S c a p h i o p u s h o l b r o o k i iLength 13/4 21/4 in. (4.5-6 cm.)

The Eastern Spadefoot gets itsname from the sickle-shaped hornyspade or heel on the bottom of eachhind foot used for digging. The East-ern Spadefoot is an accomplished

backwards burrower.Small warts are scattered over its

relatively smooth skin. Notice thepupil is vertical rather than horizon-tal and that there are no conspicuousparotoid glands behind the eyes. Thespadefoot eats flies, spiders, caterpil-lars, earthworms, snails, moths, andcrickets. They will breed after a heavy

rainfall.The Eastern Spadefoot is not a toad.

It is exceptionally rare, and is knownto occur in Athens, Coshocton, Law-rence, Meigs, Morgan, Scioto, Tus-carawas, and Washington counties.This is a state endangered species.

F a m i l y S c

a p h i o p o d i d a e

easTeRN CRICkeT fROG A c r i s c r e p i t a n s


32/48

32

easTeRN CRICkeT fROG A c r i s c r e p i t a n sLength 5/8 - 11/2 in. (1-4 cm.)

Eastern Cricket Frogs are generallyrestricted to the western two-thirds ofOhio where they inhabit the shores ofsparsely vegetated permanent pondsand streams. Although similar in size

to its close relative the Chorus Frog,the Cricket Frog has warty ratherthan smooth skin and a dark trianglebetween the eyes. Because its color isinfluenced by its surroundings, theretends to be much variation in colorand pattern. It tends to get lighter incolor in a bright light, high tempera-ture, or a dry atmosphere. Some havea bright green or brick red stripe ontheir back. Unlike most other mem-bers of the treefrog family, whichhave broad rounded toe disks, Crick-et Frogs toe disks are no wider thanthe width of the tips of their toes.

Eastern Cricket Frogs become ac-tive in very early spring, but do notbegin their courtship serenade untillate spring or early summer. Their call

consists of a series of sharp clickingnotes similar to the sound of some-one tapping two marbles together inrapid succession.

F a m i l y H y l i d a e

MOUNTaIN CHORUs fROG P s e u d a c r i s b r a c h y p h o n a


33/48

33

MOUNTaIN CHORUs fROG y pLength 1 11/4 in. (2.5-3 cm.)

Although very similar in ap-pearance to the Spring Peeper, theMountain Chorus Frog has two dark,curved stripes on the back which looklike reversed parentheses. On some

individuals these lines form a crudeX or H causing it to be easily con-fused with the Spring Peeper. It alsousually bears a dark triangle betweenthe eyes and a white line on the up-per lip. Its call is similar to that of theWestern Chorus Frog, but distinctlymore nasal and higher pitched; witha faster trill rate.

This is a woodland species whichoccurs in Ohio only in the south-eastern hill country, often some dis-tance from the water. These frogs areusually inconspicuous, but in latespring they give themselves away asthey call from their breeding pools,springs, brooks, or just about anyother shallow body of water.


spRING peepeR P s e u d a c r i s c r u c i f e r


34/48

34

spRING peepeRLength 3/4 11/4 in. (2-3 cm.)

At the first hint of spring, theSpring Peeper makes its appearance,often while traces of ice still remainon the shallow breeding ponds.

Although small enough to sit com-fortably on a dime, this tiny tree froghas a shrill, birdlike peep or whistlewhich can be heard for a surprisinglygreat distance. The Peeper can easilybe identified by the prominent darkX marking on its back, as well asby its characteristically rounded tree-frog toe pads.

After the breeding season, Peep-ers move upland to moist woodlandswhere they spend the summer hidingamong the shrubs and feeding on in-sects and other small organisms.


wesTeRN CHORUs fROG P s e u d a c r i s t r i s e r i a t a


35/48

35

wesTeRN CHORUs fROGLength 3/4 - 11/2 in. (2-4 cm.)

The Western Chorus Frog is oftenconfused with the Spring Peepersince theyre similar in size and livein similar habitats. Like the Peeper,the Chorus Frog emerges from hiber-

nation with the thawing of the ice andcongregates by the hundreds in smallponds. The Chorus Frogs call re-sembles the sound made by rubbingones finger over the teeth of a hardplastic comb instead of the birdlikewhistle of the Peeper.

There are usually three distinctivedark stripes on the back extending

from the nose across the eyes and onalong the length of the body. In somepopulations the three stripes are bro-ken into three rows of spots.

After the breeding season, ChorusFrogs are seldom seen. They prob-ably retreat deep into mud to escapethe heat of summer. Originally, thiswas chiefly a frog of the prairies, but

it was able to extend its range as theeastern woodlands were cleared foragriculture.

F a m

i l y H y l i d a e


36/48

aMeRICaN bUllfROG L i t h o b a t e s c a t e s b e i a n u s


37/48

37

aMeRICaN bUllfROGLength 31/2 6 in. (9-15 cm.)

The American Bullfrog is the largestfrog in North America. The deep resonantcall of the male Bullfrog can be heard re-verberating from Ohio ponds, marshes,and large slow-moving streams from late

April through late summer. Sometimestheir call can be heard a mile away.

Like most other frogs and toads, itstongue is fastened in the front of themouth, enabling it to catch a wide varietyof creatures. Its diet includes crayfish, in-sects, mice, small snakes and turtles, andother frogs. There have been reports offinding birds, and even bats in the stom-

achs of Bullfrogs.As with its cousin the Green Frog, male

and female Bullfrogs are distinguishedfrom each other by the size of the eardrum. Females have ear drums about thesize of their eyes; they are much largerin the males. Except during breedingseason, when they go through an aggres-sive, loud, splashing courtship, Bullfrogsare rather solitary and are very territo-rial. The large tadpoles may take two orthree years to complete metamorphosis,in some cases.

F a m i l y R a n i d a e

NORTHeRN GReeN fROG L i t h o b a t e s c l a m i t a n s m e l a n o t a


38/48

38

NORTHeRN GReeN fROGLength 21/4 31/2 in. (6-9 cm.)

This is by far the most abundantand widely distributed frog in Ohio.Although similar in appearance tothe Bullfrog, the Green Frog is smallerand has two very pronounced ridges

or dorsolateral folds down the backwhich are not found on Bullfrogs.

The Green Frog does not startsinging until long after most otherfrogs have finished breeding. Its callsounds like the plucking of a bassstring on a banjo at well-spaced inter-vals. When disturbed, this frog uttersa short, high pitched cry as it dives

into the water. Even as an adult, theGreen Frog is very aquatic and staysnear water season after season.

The tadpoles closely resemble Bull-frog tadpoles, but are smaller. GreenFrog tadpoles metamorphose thesame year if they hatch frog eggs laidin May or June. Eggs laid later resultin tadpoles that overwinter, then un-dergo metamorphosis the next springor summer.


pICkeRel fROG L i t h o b a t e s p a l u s t r i s


39/48

39

pICkeRel fROGLength 13/4 3 in. (4.5-7.5 cm.)

Although similar in appearanceto the Northern Leopard Frog, thePickerel Frog is slightly smaller, tendsto be light brown instead of green,and has two rows of squarish rather

than roundish spots running downits back. Also characteristic is thebright yellowish-orange colorationon the inside surfaces of its hind legs.

Pickerel Frogs tend to favor thecool, clear waters of streams as op-posed to the warm, sluggish wa-ters of ponds and lakes. They occurthroughout the eastern half of Ohio

and all of the counties that border theOhio River.

They also inhabit the Great Mi-ami River drainage from Logan andShelby counties south to Miami andGreene counties.

Many predators tend to avoid eat-ing Pickerel Frogs. Their skin secre-tions are reported to be somewhat

toxic, a trait apparently not sharedby their close look-alike, the LeopardFrog.


NORTHeRN leOpaRD fROG L i t h o b a t e s p i p i e n s


40/48

40

Length 2 31/2 in. (5-9 cm.)

Northern Leopard Frogs are sonamed for the black leopard spotson their back, sides, and legs. Theyare fairly common throughout Ohioin a wide variety of habitats, ranging

from the margins of lakes and riversto marshes and wet meadows. Dur-ing summer, they are often encoun-tered in meadows away from anypermanent body of water, hence thecommon names Grass Frog andMeadow Frog.

From mid-March through May,ponds, streams, marshes, and even

temporarily flooded fields are usedfor breeding grounds. The males callis a low, guttural grunting like thesound produced by rubbing a thumbover a balloon. Leopard Frogs singeven when totally submerged in wa-ter.

F a m

i l y R a n i d a e

wOOD fROG L i t h o b a t e s s y l v a t i c u s


41/48

41

Length 11/2 23/4 in. (4-7 cm.)

This frogs wide range extendsnorth to the tundra of Labrador andAlaska, farther north than any otherNorth American amphibian. Thisfrog is brown, tan, or pinkish with a

dark mask across its eyes. It is ourmost terrestrial frog, preferring moistwoodlands to the ponds more com-monly frequented by other frogs. Iteven hibernates on land beneath leaflitter where it survives partial freez-ing of its tissues.

During the brief breeding periodin late February to early April, often

before the ice has completely melted,woodland ponds may be suddenlyfull of courting Wood Frogs. Theircall is a series of five or six explosiveclucking notes. A week or so afterbreeding, the ponds are completelyabandoned by these solitary maskedmavericks.

F a m

i l y R a n i d a e


42/48

toad toad

frog frog

parotoid gland

tympanic membrane

post-orbital crest

snout-vent length

dorsolateral fold

total length


43/48

lichen-likeflecks spots ink spots diagonal linecanthus rostralis

tailcostal grooves head

ventgular fold

snout-vent lengthstandard length

*Special thanks toJeff Davis, Greg Lipps,

Ralph Pfingsten,

Adam Mann, and

Guy Denny for their

contributions.

ReCOMMeNDeD ReaDING


44/48

Ohio Frog and Toad Atlasby Jeffrey G. Davis and Scott A. Menze

Ohio Biological Survey Miscellaneous Contributions Number 6, 2000

Presents the distribution (includes county maps), abundance,and life history of 15 species of frogs and toads reported from Ohio.

In Ohios Backyard: Frogs and Toadsby Jeffrey G. Davis and Scott A. Menze

Ohio Biological Survey 2002.Includes color photos, distribution maps of Ohios frogs and

toads, and a CD of their calls.

Salamanders of Ohioedited by Ralph A. Pfingsten and Floyd L. Downs

Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin, Volume 7, Number 2, 1989

Includes color plates of species and habitats and the lifehistory and distribution of Ohios salamanders.

The Audubon Society Field Guide to AmericanReptiles & Amphibians

by J.L. Behler and F. Wayne King.Alfred A. Knopf, 1979

Field guide to North American species

A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians ofEastern and Central North America

by Roger Conant and Joseph T. Collins.Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998 (revised edition)

Includes color plates, distribution mapsand brief text about each species.

A Natural History of Amphibiansby Robert C. Stebbins and Nathan W. Cohen

Princeton University Press, 1995

The ODNR Division of Wildlife adopted a regulation in May 2000, Ohio Administrative Code (O.A.C.) Section1501:31-25-04, concerning the possession, purchase, sale, or trade of reptiles and amphibians native to our state.The purpose of this regulation is to protect and conserve native reptiles and amphibians while maintaining the

educational and economic benefits derived from them. Contact your district wildlife office for further information.

lICeNsING aND ReGUlaTIONs

Ohio Salamander Atlasby Ralph Pfingsten and Timothy O. Matson

Ohio Biological Survey Miscellaneous Contributions Number 9, 2003

Presents the distribution (includes county maps), abundance,and life history of 28 species of salamanders reported from Ohio.


45/48

pUblICaTION fUNDING


46/48

10a.Amount from line 10onpage1.................................................................................................10a.

11.Joint filing credit (only formarried filing jointly filers; seepage 16inthe instructions andenclose documentation) %times line 10a(limit$650)..................................................11.

12.Ohio tax less joint filing credit (line 10a minus line 11; if line 11 is more than line 10a,enter -0-).....................................................................................................................................12.

13.Total credits from line 69 on page 4 of Ohio form IT1040 (enclose page 4) ......................13.

14.Ohio income tax before manufacturing equipment grant (line 12 minus line 13; if line 13 ismore than line 12, enter -0-)......................................................................................................14.

15.Manufacturing equipment grant. You must include the grant request form .................15.

16.Ohio income tax (line 14 minus line 15; i f line 15 is more than line 14, enter -0-)..................16.

17.Interest penalty on underpayment of estimated tax. Check if Ohio form IT/SD 2210is included (may berequired; seeinstructions onpage17)............ INTEREST PENALTY 17.

18.Unpaid Ohio use tax (see worksheet on page 29 of instructions)...................USE TAX 18.

19.Total Ohio tax (add lines 16, 17 and 18)........................................................ TOTALTAX 19.

20. Ohio Tax Withheld(box 17 on your W-2). Place W-2(s) on top of this return................................................................................................................................... AMOUNT WITHHELD 20.

21.2007 overpaymentcreditedto2008,2008esti matedtaxpaymentsand2008 IT40Pextensionpayment(s) ..21.

22.a.Refundable business jobs credit; b.Refundable pass-through entity credit;yo u mu st in clud e cert if ica te (s) yo u mu st in clud e K-1 (s)

c.Historical building rehabilitation credit; 22.Add lines 22a, 22b and 22c.....................22.you must include certificate(s)

23. Add lines 20, 21 and 22...............................

............................TOTAL PAYMENTS 23.

24.If line 23 is GREATER than line 19, subtract line 19 from line 23.... AMOUNT OVERPAID 24.

25.Amount of line 24 to be credited to 2009 estimated income tax liability................CREDIT 25.

26.Amount of line 24 that you wish to donateto the Military Injury Relief Fund........................26.

27.Amount of line 24 that you wish to donatefor Ohios wildlife species and conservationof endangered wildlife...............................................................................................................27.

28.Amount of line 24 that you wish to donatefor nature preserves, scenic rivers and pro-tection of endangered species..................................................................................................28.

29.Amount of line 24 to be refunded (subtract amounts onlines 25, 26, 27 and 28 from line 24) ....YOURREFUND 29.

30. Amount You Owe (if line 23 is less than line 19, subtract line 23 from line 19). If pay-ment is enclosed, make check payable to Ohio Treasurer of State and include Ohio formIT 40P (see pages 5 or 43 of the instructions)..................................AMOUNT YOU OWE 30.

Your signature Date

Sp ou se s sig n a tu re (se e inst ru ct io n s o n pa g e 9 ) Ph o ne n u mbe r

Preparers name (please print; see instructions on page 9) Phone number

Do you authorize your preparer to contact us regarding this return? Yes No

ForDepartment UseOnly

Code

1040IncomeTaxR eturn

I havereadthis return. Underpenalties of perjury, I declarethat, to thebest of my knowledgeandbelief, thereturnandall enclosures aretrue, correct andcomplete.

, ,

PAYMENTS

, , . , , . 0 0

, , .

If your refund is less than $1.01, no refund will be issued. If you owe less than $1.01, no payment is necessary.

, , . 0 0 , , . 0 0

SIGNHERE (required) See page 4 of this return for mailing information.

, . 0 0

, . 0 0

, . 0 00 0

, , . 0 0

0 0

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0, , . 0 0, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

. 0 0

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

REFUNDORAMOUNTYOUOWE

, , . 0 0

, , . 0 0

Funding for this publication was provided by donations to the state income tax checkoff

program, sales of the cardinal license plate and the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp.

To make a donation:

go to the second page of the

1040 income tax form for

thetax checkoff programFor more information aboutOhios native wildlife, please

contact the Division of Wildlife:

1-800-WILDLIFE

(1-800-750-0750 Ohio Relay TTY only)

wi ldoh io . com

To purchase a license plate:

visit your local registrars

office or call BMVat

1-888-PLATES3

To purchase a Legacy Stamp,

call the Division of Wildlife at:

1-800-WILDLIFE or visit the

web at wildohiostamp.com

To mail a donation, send to:

Wildlife Diversity Fund2045 Morse Road Bldg G.Columbus, OH 43229-6693

Pub 5127- Stream Fishes of Ohio

Pub 5140- Common Spiders of Ohio

Pub 5204- Butterflies & Skippers of Ohio

Pub 5320- Dragonflies & Damselflies of Ohio

OTHeR wIlDlIfe DIveRsITy-fUNDeD bOOkleTsPub 5334- Sportfish of Ohio

Pub 5344- Mammals of Ohio

Pub 5349- Warblers of Ohio

Pub 5354- Reptiles of Ohio

Pub 5414- Common Birds of Ohio

Pub 5418- Waterbirds of Ohio

Pub 5423- Owls of Ohio

fasT faCTs Sign up for Wild OhioeNews today!


47/48

Bullfrogs can live at least nine years in the wild, and captive individuals havesurvived for 16 years. American Toads have been reported to live for 30 years.

Some of the deadliest natural toxins occur in frogs. An individual of the golden

poison frog, Phyllobates terribilis, of Colombia contains enough poison to kill10,000 mice. Closer to home, both American and Fowlers Toads have glands that

hold toxins strong enough to kill dogs that bite into them. Few animals are more accomplished jumpers than frogs. Some species can bound

over 20 times the length of their body. To match that, a person would have to leapabout 100 feet.

The worlds largest amphibian is the Chinese Giant Salamander,Andrias davidi-anus. The biggest individual yet found measured 5 11 and weighed 143 pounds.The largest North American amphibian is the Two-toed Amphiuma,Amphiumameans, of the southeastern U.S. They can approach four feet in length and bitefiercely. In Ohio, Hellbenders hold the title for overall massiveness.

Brazilian Gold Frogs, Brachycephalus didactylus, are possibly the worlds small-

est amphibian, measuring less than than half an inch long. In Ohio, the SpringPeeper is the tiniest, with most individuals averaging about an inch in length.

The total biomass overall weight of Ohios salamanders exceeds that of all of

our other amphibians combined, in spite of the fact that most people never evensee one.

Ohios most aquatic amphibian species are the Hellbender and Mudpuppy,

which rarely if ever leaves the water. Surprisingly, our least aquatic amphibianmay be the immature stage of this species, which is known as a Red Eft. Eftsrange about very dry forested habitats, seldom if ever venturing into water.

fasT faCTs

Your source for timely news, tips, information,and ideas for experiencing Ohio wildlife

wildohio.com

Get monthly updates on only theinformation you request

Other monthly features:

Video clips from TVs Wild Ohio: fun and educational!

Wildlife officers in action

Wild recipes

Upcoming events

and so much more!

Get monthly updates on only theinformation you request

O H I O D E P A R T M E N T O F N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E SDIVISION OF WILDLIFE


48/48

PUBLICATION 5348 (R0712)

Total Quantities Printed: X,000 Unit cost: $.XXX Publication date: 7/12

W I L D O H I O . C O M

amphibians of ohio field guide

Documents