Southern Chorus Frog
Pseudacris nigrita
(click image to enlarge)

Appearance: A small, prominently marked treefrog, with three dark dorsal stripes, the outer two of which are often broken into a series of spots.  A dark band on the side of the face and body from the tip of the snout almost to the groin is almost always evident, as is an unbroken white line along the upper lip. The young of this frog are those most likely to be encountered outside of the breeding season, and these may only measure 1 cm. (½ in.) in length. Full-grown adults measure up to 3.5 cm (1.25 in.) in length.

Habits and Habitat: Favored habitats include pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and forested wetlands in the Coastal Plain. Adults can be found calling from emergent vegetation in small ponds and pools used as breeding sites or sometimes on mats of floating vegetation.

Vocalization: The Southern Chorus Frog's call is a slow, rising trill reminiscent of the sound made when a finger is run along the teeth of a comb. Males of this species generally call during their breeding season in the winter months, but can occasionally be heard calling during heavy rains at almost any time of year.

Reproduction/Egg Description: The Southern Chorus Frog breeds primarily in mid or late winter. Very little is known about breeding activity and egg morphology of this frog.

Distribution and Abundance: The Southern Chorus Frog occupies most of the Coastal Plain in the Deep South including the panhandle of Florida. The Florida Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita verrucosa) occupies the Florida peninsula.

SE ARMI Index Sites: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Pseudacris nigrita nigrita, Striped Southern Chorus Frog).