AMPHIBIANS
in SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan has only 7 species of amphibians.
Boreal Chorus Frog (most common)
Northern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog
Canadian Toad
Great Plains Toad
Plains Spadefoot Toad
Tiger Salamander

FROGS

There are about 4000 species of frogs in the world.
Saskatchewan is home to only three species.

BOREAL CHORUS FROG

courtesy of USGS (United States Geological Survey)

listen

description - The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small, smooth skinned frog belonging to the tree frog family. Its colour varies from green-grey to brown. It may have three stripes (or broken stripes) on its back. There is a dark stripe from the nose, the eye and along the side to the leg. There is also a white stripe along the upper lip, under the eye and past the ear. This frog has short legs and small pads on the toes to help it climb grasses and plants. Adult size is less than 4 cm.
call - This frog's call is almost like the sound made when you run your fingernail along the teeth of a plastic comb. (frog call at naturewatch.ca )
habitat - These frogs are found in wet grassy meadows or wooded areas near ponds. They are also found on the tundra (northern regions). They will breed in almost any fishless pond with at least 10 cm of water, including roadside ditches, flooded fields, ponds and marshes.
range - In Saskatchewan, this frog is found throughout most of the province in grasslands, aspen parklands and forested areas. In Canada, the Boreal Chorus Frog is found in Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon. It is also found in central United States
life cycle - Small clumps of eggs are laid in shallow water and are attached to water plants. The eggs hatch within a few weeks. Tadpoles finish transforming by early to mid-summer. They may take one to two years to become adults. They rarely live more than three years.
food - They are fond of ants and spiders, but also eat flies, beetles, aphids and snails. They even eat millipedes and caterpillars,
enemies - The Boreal Chorus Frogs have many predators.
other facts - The frogs hibernate beneath rocks or logs or underground. They freeze during the winter and come out of hibernation in early spring (sometimes even before the ice has melted off the ponds).

NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG

David Cappaert, Michigan State University, www.forestryimages.org

description - The Northern Leopard Frog is a green or brown frog with large spots on its back and legs and a white belly. Leopard Frogs also have light-coloured ridges on their bodies Adults are usually 5-8 cm. in body length although some may grow as large as 11 cm.
call - The male's call is a low snore followed by several low grunts. Sometimes it sounds like a finger rubbed on a wet balloon. (frog call at naturewatch.ca)
range - In Saskatchewan, this frog is found throughout the aspen parkland and grassland regions. It has been found in parts of the boreal forest region. The Northern Leopard Frog is found in every province and throughout much of the northern United States.
habitat - They live in a wide range of habitats from prairie to woodland to tundra. They are often found a distance from open water. This is why they are also called meadow frogs and grass frogs.
life cycle - Masses of eggs in a dark grey jelly are attached to underwater plants. A female lays 3000 to 4000 eggs. The eggs hatch in one to three weeks depending upon the temperature. Tadpoles transform into frogs in mid to late summer. It takes a Leopard Frog approximately two years to reach maturity.
food - . Leopard Frogs eat mainly insects, spiders and earthworms. They will also eat other frogs, snails, small mice, fish and other small animals. Their favourite time to hunt for food is when it is overcast or raining.
enemies - They are eaten by snakes, turtles, foxes, raccoons and birds (hawks, gulls, grebes, herons) . Few tadpoles survive the summer for they are food for water birds, fish, leeches, turtles, snakes, bullfrogs and water insects.
other facts - Winters are spent at the bottom of ponds that do not freeze solid or under stones in moving water Although once a very widespread species of frog, the population of Northern Leopard Frogs is declining and at risk in some provinces.

WOOD FROG

David Cappaert, Michigan State University, www.forestryimages.org

description - This frog may be reddish, grey, tan or dark brown. A dark mask starts at the snout (nose) and becomes wider behind the eye, then ends past the ear. There is a white stripe under the mask. Along each side of the frog's back is a ridge of skin. The belly is white with dark flecks. Some wood frogs have a light stripe down the middle of the back. Body length is 3 to 6 cm though some adults may reach up to 8 cm.
call - The call is a series of sharp quacks sounding almost like a duck. (frog call at naturewatch.ca)
range - The Wood Frog is the most widely distributed amphibian in Canada and is found in every province and territory. Wood Frogs are also found in the eastern and north-central United States. In Saskatchewan, this frog lives in the aspen parkland and boreal forest regions. The Wood Frog is found farther north than any other amphibian - up to the Arctic Circle (in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut)
habitat - The Wood Frog is mostly found in moist woodlands and near woodland ponds, although it also lives in grasslands and the nothern tundra.
young - Several females lay their eggs together. The dark coloured eggs (2000-3000 eggs) are laid in clusters in shallow water The egg mass is attached to plants just below the surface of the water. The tadpoles quickly transform into froglets (taking 44-85 days) in June or early July.
food - Wood Frogs eat insects and other small invertebrates (spiders, beetles, bugs, moth larvae, slugs and snails) .
enemies - Predators include snakes, snapping turtles, skunks, foxes, coyotes, herons and some larger birds. Tadpoles are often eaten by their own kind. Diving bugs and wood turtles also feed on tadpoles.
other facts - Wood Frogs hibernate under logs or fallen leaves. They freeze in the winter and come out of hibernation when the snow and ice starts to melt.

----- UNDER CONSTRUCTION -----

TOADS

CANADIAN TOAD

GREAT PLAINS TOAD

(PLAINS) SPADEFOOT TOAD

------------------------------------------------------

TIGER SALAMANDER