Bronze Frog - Rana clamitans clamitans
Banjo Twang
Description & Identification:
Medium sized, reaching 4" (102mm). Coloration variable, usually head and dorsum a rich brown or bronze and faint, irregular black blotches may be present on the back and legs; may also be green to greenish brown with brown or grayish spots; snout and upper lip may be bright green; dorsolateral ridges extending approximately 2/3 the body from behind the eye but not reaching the groin; underside is a cream color and occasionally with irregular or wavy blotches and dark mottling under the head and legs; males have a yellow throat and tympanum a little larger than eye.
Development:
Over a thousand eggs are laid in jelly masses attached to submerged vegetation near the shoreline; eggs are black above and white below; hatch in 3-4 days. Tadpoles are usually under 1.2" (30mm); back is dark green with black spots; belly is a cream color; throat is mottled with green; tail is greenish with dark specks or spots on both upper and lower fins. Metamorphoses in 2 months or longer. Newly transformed frogs have a highly mottled breast and chin.
Habitat & Behaviors:
An aquatic species throughout all stages of its life cycle. Most commonly found along small hammock streams and brooks but may utilize other bodies of water such as springs, creeks, lakes, cypress heads, swamps and permanent ponds. Its concealing coloration makes it very difficult to locate and approach undetected.
Similar Species:
Bullfrogs do not have dorsolateral ridges. Leopard frogs have rows of dark blotches or spots down the back and their dorsolateral ridges are yellow or gold.
Voice Call:
Resembles the plucking of the strings of a banjo; generally call from the bank or when sitting on floating vegetation during late spring and early summer.
This frog has been observed at the following locations. Click on the map to view the data.
