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Description: Upland Chorus frogs are small -- 0.75-1.4
in (1.9-3.5 cm) -- brown or grey frogs, with a light line across
the upper lip and a dark lateral stripe running through the eye.
Markings are highly variable. Generally, there are three longitudinal
stripes down the back, but these may be absent or broken.
Sometimes the dorsum appears streaked or spotted. Males can be
distinguished by a vocal sac located under the chin. This species
looks very similar to the Southern Chorus Frog, Pseudacris
nigrita. The easiest way to distinguish the two species is
by range (generally P. ferarium is found in the Piedmont
and Mountains, while P. nigrita is found in the Coastal
Plain) and by their calls (see below).
Range and Habitat: Upland Chorus Frogs are found throughout
the eastern US, but are primarily restricted to the Piedmont.
Although this species is generally replaced by P. nigrita
in the Coastal Plain, there are a few isolated P. feriarum
populations in the South Carolina Coastal Plain. They are found
in grassy areas, woodlands, wetlands, and bogs.
Habits: The upland chorus frog breeds from February to
March. Adults congregate and call from wetlands, ditches, and
slow-moving creeks. Larvae take 2-3 months to complete metamorphosis.
Tadpole diets include algae, diatoms, and decomposed plant material.
Call: The call of Chorus Frogs has been likened to the
sound that a comb makes when a finger is run down the bristles.
Pseudacris feriarum's call is smooth and fast, whereas
Pseudacris nigrita's call is more prolonged and jerky.
Conservation Status: These frogs are considered common
and are not protected in our region.
Pertinent Reference:
Britson, C.A. and R.E. Kissell. 1996. Effects of food type
on developmental characteristics of an ephemeral pond-breeding
anuran, Pseudacris triseriata feriarum. Herpetologica 52:374-392.
Account Author: Emily Rogers, University of Georgia -
edited by J.D. Willson
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