Acris blanchardi

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).

Widespread and common in much of range in central United States, but major declines have occurred in northern part of range; cause of declines is uncertain, may involve differnet factors in different areas.

Range extends from southwestern South Dakota, southern Minnesota, central Wisconsin, southern Michigan, extreme southwestern Ontario (formerly), and northern Ohio south to southern Texas, part of immediately adjacent extreme northeastern Mexico, and southern Louisiana; west to northeastern Colorado (at least formerly) and eastern New Mexico (Gamble et al. 2008). Documented range is west of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River, except for small areas along the east side of the lower Mississippi River and south of the Ohio River in northern Kentucky.

This species is represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range. Recently found at only 19 of 44 historical sites in southwestern Wisconsin (Jung 1992).

This species appears to be significantly threatened primarily in the northern portion of its range. The reasons for the declines remain speculative but vegetation succession, climatic fluctuations, predation by native and exotic species, competition from other frog species, and water pollution caused by pesticides and/or other chemicals associated with agriculture are possibly significant (Harding 1997, Lannoo 1998, Hammerson 1999, Hammerson and Livo 1999).