Amphibians - Frogs

Herpetology - the branch of zoology dealing the study of reptiles and amphibians or creeping animals. This word derives from Greek herpeton = creeping animal or from herpein = to creep. Interesting, all the different things we can study.

The California Red-legged Frog is an endangered species. In 2004, we met 2 zoologists or rather herpetologists who were also birding (ornithologists) at Point Reyes National Seashore. Today, they were birding on their day off but they were also checking on the frogs at Abbott's Lagoon and we saw several of these endangered frogs. Since the camera was in my hands, I took a few pictures.

This frog species was once very abundant in California and was a favored amphibian in Mark Twain's short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County written in 1865.

But my interest in frogs starts with Blanchard's Cricket Frog which I saw this spring in Texas. I was impressed with the emerald green stripe on its back. This is a subspecies of the Northern Cricket Frog.

I have seen other frogs, including the Rio Grande Leopard Frog, but did not get good pictures.

Blanchard's Cricket Frog - Acrins crepanis blanchari

American Toad - Bufo americanus

California Red-legged Frog - Rana aurora draytoni

Green Frog - Rana clamitans

Bull Frog - Rana catesbeiana

Back in 2007, I wrote a blog about the next frog, a Gray Tree Frog.

Gray Tree Frog - Hyla versicolor

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians

All images © MSCI

Gray Tree Frog

Saturday, it was the annual summer garage sale around our lake. My husband and I went searching for items in our neighbor's junk that would be treasures for our grandchildren (after a cycle in the dishwasher). This day is also an occasion when neighbors spent time visiting and sharing stories. I found a gem (story not junk) that I want to share.

Our neighbors DM and RAM have a nice yard with flowers and bird houses. Since we share an interest in birds, RAM showed me the 5 baby Black-capped Chickadees in a birdhouse next to the front door and the baby American Robins in the bushes by the garage.

Mama chickadee with food

5 baby birds in a nest with warm fluff

Then she said, "I also have a frog living in my little green outhouse on this bench" (next to the front door, too). She went on to tell me that this frog has been living at this outhouse address for 3 years. Once in a while, it goes away for a few days during the summer. In the winter, it probably hibernates nearby and then in the spring it comes back. Last summer DM and RAM even heard it's mate singing from the bushes. (frog singing is night time music)

I hurried home to get my camera.

While taking pictures, the frog wasn't too happy with my camera lense pointing at it, so it slipped down backwards into the outhouse seat and hid from me but not until I had my pictures!

Outhouse

My home!

White fluff on its feet is cottonwood fuzz


A two seater home!

My research tells me that this is a Gray Tree Frog, Hyla versicolor. It is a chameleon frog that changes its color to match the background. Two identification marks, a white spot under both eyes and yellow-orange markings on the inside of the hind legs, can be seen in the photos.

What an amazing frog!

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
The Calls of Frogs and Toads
Animal Diversity Web
Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Frogs and Toads in Color and Sound
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds
Camera: Canon EOS D60
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM