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Pseudacris maculata

(Agassiz, 1850)

Boreal Chorus Frog

G5Secure Found in 105 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.806592
Element CodeAAABC05130
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyHylidae
GenusPseudacris
COSEWICPS:T
Synonyms
Pseudacris triseriata maculata(Agassiz, 1850)
Other Common Names
boreal chorus frog (EN) Rainette faux-grillon boréale (FR)
Concept Reference
Lemmon, E. M., A. R. Lemmon, J. T. Collins, J. A. Lee-Yaw, and D. C. Cannatella. 2007. Phylogeny-based delimitation of species boundaries and contact zones in the trilling chorus frogs (Pseudacris). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44:1068-1082.
Taxonomic Comments
A molecular phylogeny of Pseudacris based on mtDNA data (Moriarty and Cannatella 2004) revealed four strongly supported clades within Pseudacris: (1) A West Coast Clade containing regilla and cadaverina, (2) a Fat Frog Clade including ornata, streckeri, and illinoensis, (3) a Crucifer Clade consisting of crucifer and ocularis, and (4) a Trilling Frog Clade containing all other Pseudacris. Within the Trilling Frog Clade, brimleyi and brachyphona form the sister group to the Nigrita Clade: nigrita, feriarum, triseriata, kalmi, clarkii, and maculata. The Nigrita Clade shows geographic division into three clades: (1) populations of maculata and triseriata west of the Mississippi River and Canadian populations, (2) southeastern United States populations of feriarum and nigrita, and (3) northeastern United States populations of feriarum, kalmi, and triseriata. Moriarty and Cannatella (2004) found that subspecific epithets for crucifer (crucifer and bartramiana) and nigrita (nigrita and verrucosa) are uninformative, and they therefore discouraged recognition of these subspecies. They concluded that further study is needed to determine if illinoensis warrants status as a distinct species. Molecular data were consistent with retention of regilla, cadaverina, ocularis, and crucifer in the genus Pseudacris.

Using mtDNA samples from a large number of localities throughout North America, Lemmon et al. (2007) elucidated the phylogenetic relationships and established the geographic ranges of the trilling chorus frogs (Pseudacris). They redefined the ranges of several taxa, including P. maculata, P. triseriata, and P. feriarum; found strong evidence for recognizing P. kalmi as a distinct species; and discovered a previously undetected species in the south-central United States (to be described in a forthcoming publication). Based on mtDNA data, Pseudacris maculata and P. clarkii did not emerge as distinct, monophyletic lineages but, given the degree of morphological and behavioral divergence between the taxa, Lemmon et al. (2007) chose to recognize them as separate species, until further data suggest otherwise.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2017-08-02
Change Date1996-08-15
Edition Date2008-05-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
Range includes large areas of Canada and the western and north-central United States from the Great Bear Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories to northern Ontario, southward to Arizona, New Mexico, northern Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois; disjunctly also in southern Ontario, southern Quebec, northern New York, and northwestern Vermont (Conant and Collins 1991, Stebbins 2003, Lemmon et al. 2007, Connior and Roberts 2020). Elevational range extends to above 12,000 feet (3,670 meters) in Colorado and Utah (Hammerson 1999, Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known, but locally some populations probably are declining as a result of conversion of habitat to intensive human uses.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Boreal chorus frogs have a dark stripe or mask through each eye from the snout to the groin. The upper side is beautifully variable--green, brown, reddish, or reddish and green, with green or brown stripes or spots. The hind toes are not distinctly webbed. Maximum snout-vent length is about 1.5 inches (37 mm). The throat skin of mature males is loose and yellowish or dark during breeding season. The expanded vocal sac is evenly rounded or slightly flattened. The breeding call is a stuttering preeep that ascends in pitch. Larvae are olive to blackish, with a tall tail fin that is strongly arched and finely stippled or squiggled with brown. When viewed from above, the eyes of larvae are at the outside margin of the head. The coiled gut is more or less visible through the pale golden belly skin. Larvae grow to a maximum total length of about 2 inches (52 mm, usually 35-38 mm). Eggs are pigmented over more than one-half of the upper surface; the pigmentation is heaviest at high elevations. Egg diamter is 0.76-1.32 mm, and is larger at higher elevations than in lowlands. Eggs are deposited in loose, irregular or elongate clusters of a few to more than 150. Source: Hammerson (1999).

Habitat

Habitat is mostly the vicinity of quiet bodies of water and associated wetlands and meadows; sometimes these frogs cross up to a few hundred meters of upland habitat between wetlands, and they may overwinter in upland sites adjacent to wetlands; periods of inactivity may be spent in water, among thick wetland vegetation, under objects on the ground, or in rodent burrows (Hammerson 1999). Chorus frogs breed in marshes, rain pools, pools formed by melting snow, bog ponds, glacial kettle ponds, beaver ponds, marshy edges of lakes and reservoirs, flooded areas, and other bodies of water with little or no current (Hammerson 1999). Both permanent and temporary waters are used, and eggs commonly are laid in ponds that dry up before the tadpoles metamorphose. Eggs usually are attached to vegetation in shallow water.

Ecology

Tiny clams sometimes have been found attached to the toes of boreal chorus frogs. The frogs may serve as dispersal agents for the clams, which are restricted to waters and cannot move very far on their own. The frogs might even rarely move the clams from one body of water to another.

Reproduction

In lowland areas, males usually begin calling in late March or April, usually when air temperature is above 10?C. Chorusing continues through spring and early summer. By early to late June calling may come to a temporary halt, only to begin again in June, July, or even August after heavy rains or when fields are flooded with irrigation water. In the Great Plains region of Colorado, most egg laying occurs in April, May, and June. At high elevations, breeding begins immediately after the spring thaw in late May or early June and may continue into July. Calling (but not egg laying) commonly occurs through late August at high mountain breeding sites and in adjacent meadows. Some of the males calling in August appear to be young of the year.

Each female may lay several egg clusters. Hatching may occur within a few days or up to about a week after laying.

Metamorphosis occurs as early as early June in lowland areas and primarily during July and August, sometimes as late as early September, in the mountains. Young usually leave the water before the tail is fully resorbed.

Breeding populations at low elevations are composed only of individuals that hatched the previous year. At higher elevations males do not breed until they are about two years old, females not until three years old.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDBog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
ColoradoS5Yes
IdahoS3Yes
MichiganS1Yes
MontanaS5Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
MinnesotaS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
Navajo NationS4Yes
UtahS4Yes
WisconsinS5Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
KansasS5Yes
New YorkS2Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
VermontS1Yes
ArkansasS2Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
MissouriS5Yes
WyomingS5Yes
IowaS4Yes
IndianaS2Yes
New MexicoS3Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS5Yes
QuebecS2Yes
OntarioS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
NunavutSUYes
ManitobaS5Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS2Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Roadless Areas (105)
Arizona (3)
AreaForestAcres
Barbershop CanyonCoconino National Forest1,311
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Colorado (7)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Pagoda PeakRoutt NF57,676
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Montana (7)
AreaForestAcres
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
Black ButteBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest39,160
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Snowcrest MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,649
New Mexico (11)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo de la PresaSanta Fe National Forest6,178
CajaSanta Fe National Forest5,304
Canada Bonito RNASanta Fe National Forest487
Comales CanyonCarson National Forest4,389
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
El InviernoSanta Fe National Forest29,927
FallsSanta Fe National Forest2,477
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
San Pedro ParksSanta Fe National Forest5,824
North Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Lone ButteDakota Prairie Grasslands11,465
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Ponderosa PineDakota Prairie Grasslands7,471
Utah (45)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418001Uinta National Forest5,697
418002Uinta National Forest19,152
418003Uinta National Forest10,912
418004Uinta National Forest16,661
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418013Uinta National Forest14,643
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418034Uinta National Forest6,170
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
418042Uinta National Forest7,313
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Bull ValleyFishlake National Forest10,594
Bunker CreekDixie National Forest7,474
Dark ValleyDixie National Forest27,481
East MountainManti-Lasal National Forest30,705
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Hilgard MountainFishlake National Forest28,389
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Little CreekFishlake National Forest11,479
Little West Fork BlacksWasatch-Cache National Forest8,209
Long Neck Mesa / Steep Creek / Oak Creek - Steep Creek / OakDixie National Forest55,489
Marysvale PeakFishlake National Forest22,624
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Mt. ArvineFishlake National Forest6,054
Musinia PeakFishlake National Forest6,746
NoblettsWasatch-Cache National Forest3,116
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
Stump CreekCaribou National Forest355
Swan Creek MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest9,390
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
White MountainFishlake National Forest23,939
Widdop MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,011
Wyoming (28)
AreaForestAcres
Campbell LakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,088
Canyon CreekShoshone National Forest7,530
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Lake Alice - Commissary RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest166,707
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little SnakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest9,920
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Munger MountainBridger-Teton National Forest12,827
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Pass CreekShoshone National Forest6,172
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Sheridan PassShoshone National Forest8,394
Singer PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest10,498
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Strawberry CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,880
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Togwotee PassShoshone National Forest7,344
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (12)
  1. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  2. Connior, M. B. and K. G. Roberts. 2020. First record and notes on the ecology of the Boreal Chorus Frog (<i>Pseudacris maculata</i>) in Arkansas. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science 74(18):69-71.
  3. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  4. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Queiroz, D. R. Frost, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., T. W. Taggart, S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2000 [2001]. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 29. 82 pp.
  5. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Quieroz, D. Frost, D. M. Green, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, R. W. McDiarmid, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2003. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico: update. Herpetological Review 34:198-203.
  6. Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.
  7. Faivovich, J., C.F.B. Haddad, P.C.A. Garcia, D.R. Frost, J.A. Campbell and W.C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.
  8. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  9. Hammerson, G. A. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Second edition. University Press of Colorado, Boulder. xxvi + 484 pp.
  10. Lemmon, E. M., A. R. Lemmon, J. T. Collins, J. A. Lee-Yaw, and D. C. Cannatella. 2007. Phylogeny-based delimitation of species boundaries and contact zones in the trilling chorus frogs (<i>Pseudacris</i>). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44:1068-1082.
  11. Moriarty, E. C., and D. C. Cannatella. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships of the North American chorus frogs (<i>Pseudacris</i>: Hylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30:409-420.
  12. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.