A medium-sized frog reaching 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) in length. The Green Frog, as its name implies, is often green, however, dorsal coloration can also be brown, black or even grayish. The upper lip is usually bright green, but not always. A dorsolateral ridge extends from the tympanum to pelvis. This characteristic readily distinguishes the Green Frog from a small bullfrog. Larvae resemble American Bullfrog larvae, but are usually smaller and have dark spots on the webbing to the tail.
Eggs are laid in nearly any body of water; 3 to 4 clutches can be laid each season. Metamorphosis, however, often takes over one year in Connecticut.
Found in or near permanent bodies of water. Ponds, rivers, streams and lakes all are used.
Eats a wide variety of prey items, including insects, crayfish, earthworms, smaller frogs and possibly fish.
Found throughout Connecticut.
Often confused with the American Bullfrog, which lacks the complete dorsolateral ridge and has a yellow-green belly.
Conant, R. and J.T. Collins. 1991. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern/Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 450 pp.
Klemens, M.W. 1993. Amphibians and Reptiles of Connecticut and Adjacent Regions. Hartford, CT: State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut Bulletin 112. 318 pp.
Text by Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell.
Photographs © Twan Leenders. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Animals featured in photographs on this page are from Connecticut.
Audio files from The Calls of Frogs and Toads [book and CD-ROM]
Published March 2004 by Stackpole Books; 1.800.732.3669.
© 1994 Lang Elliott/NatureSound Studio
All rights reserved. Used by permission.