Amphibians
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Pseudacris kalmi · also called New Jersey chorus frogs
Calling from a shallow, temporary wetland along the mid-Atlantic coastal plain, a New Jersey chorus frog produces a rasping call nearly identical to its closest relatives, a similarity that kept the species hidden in plain sight until careful study finally distinguished it as its own.
Overview
The New Jersey chorus frog, Pseudacris kalmi, is a small amphibian native to grassland and wetland-edge habitat along a narrow stretch of the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Its recent recognition as a species distinct from the closely related upland and southern chorus frogs, near-identical rasping call, and naturally narrow coastal plain range make it a representative example of how much cryptic diversity can hide within a seemingly familiar group of frogs.
A frog defined by the gaps between its relatives
Occupying a narrow strip of coastal plain wedged between the ranges of its closest chorus frog relatives, the New Jersey chorus frog’s very identity is tied to a specific gap in the map that took careful study to notice.
Status
Least Concern, present across suitable grassland and wetland-edge habitat within its naturally narrow mid-Atlantic coastal plain range.
New Jersey Chorus Frog: common questions
How is the New Jersey chorus frog different from the upland chorus frog?
This species looks and sounds extremely similar to the upland chorus frog and was only recognised as its own distinct species after closer study, with range being the most practical way to separate the two, since the New Jersey chorus frog occupies a narrow strip of the Atlantic coastal plain positioned between the ranges of its closest relatives.
What does the New Jersey chorus frog's call sound like?
A male of this species produces a rasping call often compared to running a finger along the teeth of a comb, a call type shared broadly with several closely related chorus frog species, making the call alone not always sufficient to confirm identification without also considering range.
Why does the New Jersey chorus frog breed in temporary wetlands?
This species breeds in shallow, often temporary wetlands and flooded fields, conditions that tend to stay fishless since the water does not persist long enough to support fish populations, giving eggs and tadpoles a better chance of survival than they would have in a permanent, fish-containing pond.
Where is the New Jersey chorus frog found?
This species is native to grassland and wetland-edge habitat along a narrow stretch of the mid-Atlantic coastal plain, occupying a naturally restricted range that sits between the ranges of its closest chorus frog relatives to the north and south.