Acris crepitans
Baird, 1854
Eastern Cricket Frog
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
High - mediumThreat Impact
Leila Dasher, CC BY 4.0
Matthew, CC BY 4.0
northerly, CC BY 4.0
Oliver Hassell, CC BY 4.0
steve b, CC0 1.0
Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.828419
Element CodeAAABC01030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyHylidae
GenusAcris
Other Common Names
northern cricket frog (EN) Rainette grillon (FR)
Concept Reference
Gamble, T., P. B. Berendzen, H. B. Shaffer, D. E. Starkey, and A. M. Simons. 2008. Species limits and phylogeography of North American cricket frogs (Acris: Hylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48:112-125.
Taxonomic Comments
Gamble et al. (2008) revised the distributions of blanchardi and crepitans in the south-central part of their combined ranges and recognized A. blanchardi and A. crepitans as distinct species. This change was adopted by Frost (Amphibian Species of the World website), Collins and Taggart (2009) and Crother (2012, 2017). The morphological distinctiveness of Acris crepitans blanchardi from Acris crepitans crepitans had been rejected by McCallum and Trauth (2006).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-05-07
Change Date2025-05-07
Edition Date2025-05-07
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread and remains common in much of the eastern United States. However, the population has been declining throughout the range due to habitat loss, disease, insecticide use, and invasive predators.
Range Extent Comments
Range extends from southeastern New York and Pennsylvania southward through New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware eastern West Virginia, eastern Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, western Florida, and part of eastern Louisiana; distribution is east of the Mississippi River and south of the Ohio River (Gamble et al. 2008). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, range extent is estimated to be 1,064,689 km² (RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.
Threat Impact Comments
This species faces threats from habitat loss, invasive predators, disease, and pollution. Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is a disease known to be prevalent in this species and reduces survival, especially during colder temperatures (Sonn et al. 2019, Sonn et al. 2020, Wetsch et al. 2022). Invasive predators, such as fishes and crayfish, consume all life stages (Ade et al. 2010). Insecticides, such as imidacloprid, can cause high mortality rates in this species (Ade et al. 2010).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
This species inhabits the edges of sunny marshes, marshy ponds, and small slow-moving streams in open country. It may periodically range into adjacent nonwetland habitats in some regions. Eggs and larvae develop in the shallow water of ponds, marshes, ditches, slow streams, springs, or rain pools. Hibernation sites are underground on land near water; may hibernate communally (e.g., McCallum and Trauth 2003).
Reproduction
Lays clutch of up to a few hundred eggs in spring or summer, breeding earlier in south than in north. Aquatic larvae metamorphose in summer. Sexually mature in first year.
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDBog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | S1 | Yes |
| Virginia | S4 | Yes |
| Mississippi | S5 | Yes |
| North Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| Louisiana | S5 | Yes |
| Maryland | S5 | Yes |
| Kentucky | S5 | Yes |
| Georgia | S5 | Yes |
| Alabama | S5 | Yes |
| New York | S1 | Yes |
| South Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| Delaware | S5 | Yes |
| Tennessee | S5 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | S3 | Yes |
| West Virginia | S2 | Yes |
| New Jersey | S3 | Yes |
| Florida | S3 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (7)
North Carolina (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Boteler Peak | Nantahala National Forest | 4,205 |
| Cherry Cove (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 836 |
| Tusquitee Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 13,670 |
Virginia (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Run | Jefferson National Forest | 10,971 |
| Dolly Ann | George Washington National Forest | 7,855 |
| Kelley Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 7,590 |
| North Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 8,377 |
References (22)
- Ade, C. M., M. D. Boone, and H. J. Puglis. 2010. Effects of an insecticide and potential predators on green frogs and northern cricket frogs. Journal of Herpetology 44(4): 591-600.
- Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
- Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth edition. The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrance, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.
- Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
- Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
- Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
- 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]
- Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2013. Frogs of the United States and Canada. Volume 1. Frogs of the United States and Canada. Volume 1 :xxxi + 460.
- Edwards, E. M., B. A. Mosher, P. Sullivan, and R. O. Mummah. 2025. Eastern cricket frog <i>Acris crepitans</i> distribution and reintroduction efforts informed by wetland habitat and overwintering temperatures. Endangered Species Research 56: 231–245. doi: 10.3354/esr01391
- Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
- 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
- Gamble, T., P. B. Berendzen, H. B. Shaffer, D. E. Starkey, and A. M. Simons. 2008. Species limits and phylogeography of North American cricket frogs (<i>Acris</i>: Hylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48:112-125.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
- Green, N. B., and T. K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. xi + 241 pp.
- Hulse, A. C., C. J. McCoy, and E. Censky. 2001. Amphibians and reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca. 419 pp.
- McCallum, M. L., and S. E. Trauth. 2006. An evaluation of the subspecies <i>Acris crepitans blanchardi</i> (Anura, Hylidae). Zootaxa (1104):1-21.
- Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.
- <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
- Sonn, J. M., R. M. Utz, and C. L. Richards-Zawacki. 2019. Effects of latitudinal, seasonal, and daily temperature variations on chytrid fungal infections in a North American frog. Ecosphere 10(11): e02892. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2892
- Sonn, J. M., W. P. Porter, P. D. Mathewson, and C. L. Richards-Zawacki. 2020. Predictions of Disease Risk in Space and Time Based on the Thermal Physiology of an Amphibian Host-Pathogen Interaction. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8: 576065. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.576065
- Villena, O. C., J. A. Royle, L. A. Weir, T. M. Foreman, K. D. Gazenski, and E. H. Campbell Grant. 2016. Southeast regional and state trends in anuran occupancy from calling survey data (2001–2013) from the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11(2): 373–385.
- Wetsch, O., M. Strasburg, J. McQuigg, and M. D. Boone. 2022. Is overwintering mortality driving enigmatic declines? Evaluating the impacts of trematodes and the amphibian chytrid fungus on an anuran from hatching through overwintering. PLoS ONE17(1): e0262561. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262561