Saskatchewan has only 7 species of amphibians.
- Boreal Chorus Frog (most common)
- Northern Leopard Frog
- Wood Frog
- Canadian Toad
- Great Plains Toad
- Plains Spadefoot Toad
- Tiger Salamander
description - The Boreal Chorus Frog is a small, smooth skinned frog belonging to the tree frog family. Its colour varies from green-grey to brown. It may have three stripes (or broken stripes) on its back. There is a dark stripe from the nose, the eye and along the side to the leg. There is also a white stripe along the upper lip, under the eye and past the ear. This frog has short legs and small pads on the toes to help it climb grasses and plants. Adult size is less than 4 cm.
call - This frog's call is almost like the sound made when you run your fingernail along the teeth of a plastic comb. habitat - These frogs are found in wet grassy meadows or wooded areas near ponds. They are also found on the tundra (northern regions). They will breed in almost any fishless pond with at least 10 cm of water, including roadside ditches, flooded fields, ponds and marshes. range - In Saskatchewan, this frog is found throughout most of the province in grasslands, aspen parklands and forested areas. In Canada, the Boreal Chorus Frog is found in Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec and Yukon . It is also found in central United States life cycle - Small clumps of eggs are laid in shallow water and are attached to water plants. The eggs hatch within a few weeks. Tadpoles finish transforming by early to mid-summer. They may take one to two years to become adults. They rarely live more than three years. food - They are fond of ants and spiders, but also eat flies, beetles, aphids and snails. They even eat millipedes and caterpillars, enemies - The Boreal Chorus Frogs have many predators. other facts - The frogs hibernate beneath rocks or logs or underground. They freeze during the winter and come out of hibernation in early spring (sometimes even before the ice has melted off the ponds).
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description - The Northern Leopard Frog is a green or brown frog with large spots on its back and legs and a white belly. Leopard Frogs also have light-coloured ridges on their bodies Adults are usually 5-8 cm. in body length although some may grow as large as 11 cm. call - The male's call is a low snore followed by several low grunts. Sometimes it sounds like a finger rubbed on a wet balloon. range - In Saskatchewan, this frog is found throughout the aspen parkland and grassland regions. It has been found in parts of the boreal forest region. The Northern Leopard Frog is found in every province (at carcnet.ca) and throughout much of the northern United States. |
call - The call is a series of sharp quacks sounding almost like a duck. range - The Wood Frog is the most widely distributed amphibian in Canada and is found in every province and territory. (at carcnet.ca). Wood Frogs are also found in the eastern and north-central United States. In Saskatchewan, this frog lives in the aspen parkland and boreal forest regions. The Wood Frog is found farther north than any other amphibian - up to the Arctic Circle (in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut) habitat - The Wood Frog is mostly found in moist woodlands and near woodland ponds, although it also lives in grasslands and the nothern tundra. young - Several females lay their eggs together. The dark coloured eggs (2000-3000 eggs) are laid in clusters in shallow water The egg mass is attached to plants just below the surface of the water. The tadpoles quickly transform into froglets (taking 44-85 days) in June or early July. food - Wood Frogs eat insects and other small invertebrates (spiders, beetles, bugs, moth larvae, slugs and snails) . enemies - Predators include snakes, snapping turtles, skunks, foxes, coyotes, herons and some larger birds. Tadpoles are often eaten by their own kind. Diving bugs and wood turtles also feed on tadpoles. other facts - Wood Frogs hibernate under logs or fallen leaves. They freeze in the winter and come out of hibernation when the snow and ice starts to melt.
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