Amphibians
Cajun Chorus Frog
Pseudacris fouquettei · also called Cajun chorus frogs
On a mild winter night along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Cajun chorus frogs begin calling from a flooded field weeks before most other frogs in the region stir, a species whose very name reflects how recently science caught up to what its range had already made distinct.
Overview
The Cajun chorus frog, Pseudacris fouquettei, is a small insectivorous frog native to forest, grassland, and wetland habitat across the western Gulf Coast region of the United States. Its recent recognition as a distinct species, split from the upland chorus frog on genetic grounds, makes it one of the more taxonomically newsworthy small frogs in North America.
A species the genetics caught up to
For years, this frog’s identity was folded into a more widespread relative, until genetic evidence made clear that a population calling from Gulf Coast fields all along deserved a name and status of its own.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable habitat throughout the western Gulf Coast region.
Cajun Chorus Frog: common questions
Why was the Cajun chorus frog only recently recognized as its own species?
The Cajun chorus frog was formerly classified as part of the upland chorus frog until genetic and bioacoustic evidence showed that the population across the western Gulf Coast was genuinely distinct from upland chorus frogs found elsewhere, leading researchers to formally split it off as its own separate species.
Why is it called the Cajun chorus frog?
The Cajun chorus frog takes its common name from the Cajun cultural region of southern Louisiana, which falls within the core of the species' range across the western Gulf Coast states.
When does the Cajun chorus frog breed?
A Cajun chorus frog typically breeds in winter and early spring, calling from temporary pools well before many other frog species in its range become active, a pattern shared broadly among chorus frogs, which tend to be among the earliest amphibian voices heard each year.
Where does the Cajun chorus frog live?
The Cajun chorus frog is native to forest, grassland, and wetland habitat across the western Gulf Coast region, including Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi, spending most of the year hidden on land outside its brief breeding period.