Green Frog

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​​​​​​​​​ 3875 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48104


734.794.6627

Tina Stephens,
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

Becky Hand,
Stewardship Specialist

Rachel Maranto,
NAP Supervisor


Rana clamitans

Identifying Fea​​​tures

  • 2 to 3 inches long; green, brown, olive, or combination skin, with a white belly.
  • One of the most abundant frogs in the state.
  • Relatively tolerant of open, sparsely vegetated sites.
  • Spends most of their time around water’s edge.
  • Dispersal to new habitat is not uncommon – usually a large group of juveniles will migrate together.
  • Over-winter in water, shallowly buried in mud or debris.
  • Typically dormant from early November to early April, but some may be active on sunny days even in mid-winter.

Ca​​​ll

  • Low twang like a loose banjo string, “c’tung,” given during the day.

Bree​​ding

  • Begin calling in early to mid-May and continues possibly into August.
  • 1,000-5,000 eggs laid attached to emergent or surface vegetation.

Develop​ment

  • Eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
  • Some tadpoles transform in late summer, but many over-winter as tadpoles and transform during second summer.
  • Reach maturity in two to three summers.

Habitat Typ​​e

  • Ephemeral wetlands.
  • Permanent wetlands.
  • Forests.
  • To a lesser extent, they may be found in agricultural areas.