Lithobates clamitans
(Latreille, 1801)
Union Co., Illinois. October 8, 1977.
Once divided into two subspecies, the green frog (L. c. melanota) and the bronze frog (L. c. clamitans) are now lumped together as the green frog. While many are green, some are not, and in some places there is a mix of green ones and bronze ones. The voice of Lithobates clamitans is best described as the pluck of a loose banjo string, a single note slowly repeated at variable times. It serves as a lovely counterpoint to the faster, more repetitive calls of other frogs. They also utter a distress call when approached – as they’re hopping into the water, it sounds like a strangled ‘bleep’ or ‘bleeble’. You’ll know what I mean the first time you hear it!
My Flickr album for this species is here.
HerpMapper records for this species are here.
