spring peeper

Spring Peeper
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Pseudacris
Species:	P. crucifer
Binomial name
Pseudacris crucifer (Wied-Neuwied, 1838)
Synonyms
Hyla crucifer Cocroft, 1994

The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern USA and Canada.

Etymology and taxonomy

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of the spring peeper, the Northern (P. c. crucifer) and the Southern spring peeper (P. c. bartramiana). The Northern is similar to the Southern except for a strong dark marking on the Southern frog's belly. The Southern P. c. bartramiana is limited to northern Florida and southern Georgia, while the northern can be found all over the eastern USA and eastern Canada.

Nicknames

On Martha's Vineyard, peepers are commonly called "pinkletinks"; in New Brunswick, Canada, they are called "tinkletoes."

Anatomy and physiology

Spring peeper

Spring peepers are tan or brown in color with a dark cross that roughly forms an X on their dorsum (thus the Latin name crucifer, meaning cross-bearer^[1]), though sometimes the marking may be indistinct.^[2][3] They have a body length between less than an 1 inch (25 mm) to 1.5 inches (38 mm)^[3] and a weight between 0.11 ounces (3.1 g) to 0.18 ounces (5.1 g).^[2]

The species have large toe pads for climbing, although they are more at home amid the loose debris of the forest floor.^[2]

The color variations of the P. crucifer are mostly tan, brown, olive green, and gray. Females are lighter-colored, while males are slightly smaller and usually have dark throats. This frog has a vocal sac located by its throat, which expands and deflates like a balloon to create a short and distinct peeping sound. Only males have the ability to make this loud high-pitched noise, and they use it to attract mates.

Ecology

Spring peeper

Spring peepers primarily live in forests and regenerating woodlands near ephemeral or semi-permanent wetlands.^[4] The amphibious species require marshes, ponds, or swamp regions in order to support the aquatic environment the larvae need.

In the northern reaches of their range, spring peepers must frequently endure occasional periods of subfreezing temperatures during the breeding season. The species can tolerate freezing of some of its body fluids, and undergoes hibernation under logs or behind loose bark on trees.^[2] This species frequently occurs in breeding aggregations of several hundred individuals, and commonly breeds in many small wetlands, including swamps, temporary pools and disturbed habitats such as farm ponds and borrow pits.^[4]

Geographic range and habitat

The southern spring peeper occurs only in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, United States. Its northern conspecific occurs in the entire United States east of the Mississippi and spreads to eastern and central Canada.^[4][2]

Behavior

Diet

Spring peepers are nocturnal carnivores, emerging at night to primarily feed on small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.^[2] They do not climb high into trees but hunt in low vegetation. Specimens in deep damp forests are active hunters both day and night, whereas those found in woodland edges restrict most hunting and activity to night.^[3]

At the larva stage, tadpoles feed on algae and other organisms in the water. Its predators include great diving beetle larvae (when in tadpole form), snakes, skunks, and larger frogs.

Vocalization

	Single spring peeper calling The call in relative isolation from others. Collective spring peepers calling A few hundred in a single pond.
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As their common name implies, the spring peeper has a high-pitched call similar to that of a young chicken, only much louder and rising slightly in tone. They are among the first frogs in the regions to call in the spring.^[5] As a chorus, they resemble the sounds of sleigh bells.^[5][6] They are heard earlier in spring not long after the ice melts on the wetlands.^[3] The species usually call from the edges of the bodies of water in which they breed, hidden near the bases of shrubs or grasses. Even when calling, the species are may be difficult to locate, and are most easily seen when in amplexus in the shallows. As in other frogs, an aggressive call is made when densities are high. This call is a rising trill closely resembling the breeding call of the Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita nigrita).^[4]

Breeding and reproduction

P. c. crucifer tadpoles, about 4-5 weeks old and ~24 hours away from complete metamorphosis.

Spring peepers breed in southern areas from October to March, depending on the local temperature. In northern areas, they breed between the months of March to June when the warm rain starts. P. crucifer typically lay around 900 eggs per clutch, but up to 1000 is possible. Egg clusters are hidden under vegetation or debris at the water base. After hatching, they transform into frogs and are ready to leave the water in about eight weeks. In very cold weather, they hibernate under logs and loose bark. Spring peepers are nocturnal frogs, and they are mostly heard but not seen. They are especially easy to hear due to their extremely loud mating call which gives them the name "peeper", but it is often hard to pinpoint the source of the sound, especially when many are peeping at once. The spring peeper can go on to live an estimated 3 years in the wild. ^[2]

Conservation status

The spring peeper has no special status in most areas. They are common and widespread frogs in the eastern regions. However, their habitats are quickly changing due to loss of wetlands. In some areas, their populations have decreased significantly.^[6]

The species are listed as threatened in both the states of Iowa^[6] and Kansas, and are protected in the state of New Jersey.^[7]

References

• Hammerson (2004). Pseudacris crucifer. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
• Spring Peeper Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide

External links

• Information related to Pseudacris crucifer from Wikispecies.