Green Frog

Notes:

The Green Frog is not a native species in British Columbia. Natural populations of Green Frogs are found throughout eastern North America. In some areas they are the most common frogs to be found. Years ago, small populations of Green Frogs were introduced to B.C. in the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island, possibly through the pet or fish bait trade. Green frogs are the classic “pond frogs”; they are medium-sized, green or bronze in colour, and have a habit of sitting fairly upright among or on aquatic plants – including, of course, water lily pads. Adult Green Frogs resemble Bullfrogs, another introduced species, but are smaller and have distinct dorsolateral folds. These are raised folds of skin which extend fron the head most of the way down the sides of the frog’s back. Green Frogs can be up to 10 centimetres long from snout to rump, making them larger than most native frog species in B.C.; they can also be recognised by the large tympanum (“ear”) behind each eye. Male frogs have tympana approximately twice the diameter of their eyes, while females have tympana about the same size as their eyes. Male Green Frogs have a yellow throat, which can be very bright during the breeding season. Tadpoles have long, oval bodies with pointed snouts. They are olive green with vague dark blotches and a cream belly. Green Frogs have a loud, distinctive call that sounds almost exactly like a stretched rubber band being plucked