The spring peeper's most distinctive trait is the dark cross or X-shaped blotch that usually is found on its back. In fact, the species name "crucifer" means "cross bearing." The spring peeper can be tan, gray, yellowish, orange or pinkish. It is a small frog with small toe pads. Females are lighter-colored, while males are slightly smaller and usually have dark throats. This frog has a vocal sac located by its throat, which expands and deflates like a balloon to create a short and distinct peeping sound. Only males have the ability to make this loud high-pitched noise, and they use it to attract mates.
Ten Facts about Spring Peeper
- They have a body length between less than an 1 inch (25 mm) to 1.5 inches (38 mm).
- Having weight between 0.11 ounces (3.1 g) to 0.18 ounces (5.1 g).
- Spring Peepers are nocturnal carnivores, emerging at night to primarily feed on small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.
- Its predators include great diving beetle larvae (when in tadpole form), snakes, skunks, and larger frogs.
- As their common name implies, the Spring Peeper has a high-pitched call similar to that of a young chicken.
- Spring Peepers breed in southern areas from October to March, depending on the local temperature.
- Spring peeper typically lay around 900 eggs per clutch, but up to 1000 is possible.
- The Southern Spring Peeper occurs only in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, United States.
- Mostly founds in Wooded areas in or near permanent or temporarily flooded ponds and swamps.
- The tadpoles metamorphose about 3 months later.
