Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita)

Southern Chorus Frog’s Call

Description: The southern chorus frog is miniscule and well defined around 1 inch in length. It normally ranges from tan to gray with numerous black markings. Individuals colors may vary depending on their environment and times of day.  The southern chorus frog is the darkest of the chorus frogs of the Southeast. Notable marks include a pale, sometimes almost white, line on the frog’s upper lip and several rows of spots (sometimes stripes) running down each side, as well as down the back of the frog. As with most chorus frogs, the southern chorus frog can be heard singing day and night, usually near shallow bodies of water. It breeds in the winter in South Carolina and Georgia.

Range and Habitat: Southern chorus frogs can be found throughout the eastern US from Florida to parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Southern chorus frogs are most often confused with the other chorus frog species. They can normally be distinguished from the other species based on range and habitat.  Southern chorus frogs are normally found along the Coastal Plain of the Carolinas down to Florida. They can be found in pine forest and will call in grassy wet areas. They can also be found in Carolina bays and man-made habitats such as roadside ditches.

Habits: The southern chorus frog is cold tolerant and will be active when other frogs aren’t. They are active from December through April in most parts of the Southeast and will call during the day. When not calling, southern chorus frogs can be difficult to locate because their their small size and often spend time in their burrows or under logs. The southern chorus frog breeds  between December and April. Females produce up to 150 eggs that are laid in small clusters of 10-20 eggs which attach to vegetation.  Eggs hatch within 3 days. Tadpoles reach up to 1.5 inches before transforming into froglets. This process takes one and half to four months.

Call: The southern chorus frog’s call resembles a trill and is very loud for a petite frog.  There are normally 6-12 notes per trill. Trills are separated by a few seconds of silence before they begin once more.

Conservation Status: These frogs are considered common and are not protected in our region.

Pertinent Reference:
Dorcas, M., and Gibbons, W. (2008). Frogs and toads of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press.

Account author:  Katrina M. Ford