Wood Frog

Description:

Wood frogs are a common frog in the Ranidae family ("true" frogs) that grow to about 3 inches long. They are typically tan and brown with a white underside, and females tend to be a more reddish brown. The two raised ridges running down the length of their bodies separating their backs (dorsols) from their sides (lateral) are called dorsolateral folds. There's often darker marking running the length of the dorsolateral fold, on the lateral side. Wood frogs also have a distinctive dark mark called a "robber mask" that starts at the snout as relatively thin bands that broaden as they progress back over the sides of the head, over the nostrils, eyes, and eardrums (tympanum).

Habitat:

"May be found anywhere in moist deciduous and mixed woods, even far from wetlands." This is certainly true in this case, as this is one that lives in my park-like backyard. Located in a suburb, our yard is host to a number of mature evergreens and deciduous trees. We do not have any permanent bodies of water that the frogs would breed in during the spring, but there is plenty of leaf litter and insects to munch on after breeding season has ended. ("After breeding, these frogs leave the water to go off into the woods. They will return the following Spring.") I came across him while mowing down the overgrown grass near a fence (not far from some wineberry bramble).

Notes:

The frog stayed still, hoping it was not noticed, allowing me to get my little point and clicker very close. After a moment or two, however, it began to blink slowly, opening and closing it's mouth by slowly dropping it's lower lip - keeping the upper lip and head still. Stress response?