Amphibians
Spotted Chorus Frog
Pseudacris clarkii · also called spotted chorus frogs
After a heavy rain floods a stretch of south-central farmland, spotted chorus frogs begin calling almost immediately, their bold, well-defined blotches distinguishing them at a glance from the several other chorus frog species that share similar grassland habitat nearby.
Overview
The spotted chorus frog, Pseudacris clarkii, is a small insectivorous frog native to grassland and agricultural habitat across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Its boldly blotched pattern and habit of breeding in rain-triggered temporary pools and flooded fields make it one of the more visually distinctive and opportunistically timed chorus frogs in its range.
Breeding on the rain’s schedule, not the calendar’s
Rather than waiting for a fixed time of year, the spotted chorus frog times its entire breeding effort to whenever sufficient rainfall happens to create the temporary pools it needs, a genuinely opportunistic strategy suited to the unpredictable rainfall of its south-central range.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable grassland and agricultural habitat throughout its south-central range.
Spotted Chorus Frog: common questions
How is the spotted chorus frog different from other chorus frogs?
A spotted chorus frog displays bold, well-defined dark green or brown blotches against a lighter background, a pattern more sharply defined than in several other chorus frog species, which tend to show more subtle or streaked markings rather than the spotted chorus frog's distinctly blotched appearance.
Why does the spotted chorus frog breed in flooded fields?
The spotted chorus frog breeds in temporary pools and flooded agricultural fields that form after rainfall, taking advantage of these short-lived, often fishless water bodies to lay eggs and develop before the water dries up, a strategy that avoids the fish predators found in more permanent water bodies.
When does the spotted chorus frog breed?
A spotted chorus frog often begins breeding activity shortly after sufficient rainfall creates suitable temporary pools, rather than following a strictly fixed seasonal calendar, meaning breeding activity can occur somewhat unpredictably depending on local rainfall patterns.
Where does the spotted chorus frog live?
The spotted chorus frog is native to grassland and agricultural habitat across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, spending most of the year on land away from water outside its brief rain-triggered breeding period.