Description: 3 1/2-8" (9-20.3
cm). The largest frog in North America. Green to yellow above
with random mottling
of darker gray. Large external eardrum;
hind feet fully webbed except for last joint of longest toe. No dorsolateral
ridges. Belly cream to white, may be mottled with gray.
Voice: Deep-pitched jug o'rum call can be heard for more than
a quarter mile on quiet mornings.
Breeding: Northern areas, May to July; southern,
February to October. Egg masses are attached to submerged vegetation.
Tadpoles
are large, 4-6 3/4" (10.2-17.2 cm), olive-green, and
may take almost 2 years to transform.
Habitat: Aquatic. Prefers ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams
large enough to avoid crowding and with sufficient vegetation
to provide easy cover.
Range: Eastern and central United States; also New Brunswick
and parts of Nova Scotia. Extensively introduced in the West.
Discussion: Nocturnal. It is
usually found on the bank at water's edge. When frightened,
it will as soon flee into nearby vegetation as take to the water.
Large specimens have been known to catch and swallow small
birds
and young snakes; its usual diet includes insects, crayfish,
other frogs, and minnows.
