Pseudacris crucifer

Formerly included in the genus Hyla; transferred to the genus Pseudacris by Hedges (1986), based on allozyme data (see also Highton 1991). Proposed as sole member of distinct genus, Parapseudacris, by Hardy and Burroughs (1986); this proposal has not gained any significant support. Cocroft (1994) analyzed morphological and biochemical data sets and concluded that the spring peeper does not arise within Pseudacris but is the sister taxon to the clade containing the P. nigrita group, P. ocularis, and the P. ornata group; he concluded also that placement of crucifer in the genus Pseudacris is appropriate but noted that inclusion in a monotypic genus also could be justified. da Silva (1997) recommended that for now Hedges' (1986) definition of Pseudacris should be maintained.

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. Current taxonomy does not reflect the phylogenetic relationships among populations of the Nigrita Clade (Moriarty and Canatella 2004). For example, the molecular data appear to indicate that triseriata, maculata, and clarkii in the western United States are conspecific, but the authors indicated that further sampling and analysis of the Trilling Frog Clade are needed before their relationships can be determined and an appropriate taxonomy established. 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.

Abundant over most of large range.

The range extends throughout the eastern United States and adjacent southeastern Canada east to Labrador (Bergman 1999, Rashleigh and Crowell 2018), west to Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas, south to the Gulf Coast and northern Florida (Dodd Jr. 2023).

This species is represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.

This species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Draining suitable wetland habitats or clearcutting uplands both results in habitat loss and abandonment of the site (Dodd Jr. 2023). This species does not thrive in areas of urbanization and intense agriculture (Dodd Jr. 2023). Cattle ponds are generally not utilized due to high turbidity (Dodd Jr. 2023). Conversion to pine plantation reduces abundance due to habitat degradation (Dodd Jr 2023). Mining results in total habitat loss that can take decades before this species returns (Dodd Jr. 2023).