Photo by Jake Zadik
Latin Name: Pseudacris ornata
Species: Amphibian
Conservation Status: S3 - Vulnerable
Ornate chorus frogs are small, measuring 1 to 1 ½ inches in length. Their color varies immensely depending on the environment in which they live. They have striking patterns in shades of green, gray, tan, and reddish-brown that distinguish them from other frogs. A thick stripe runs from their eye down their sides, and their back and legs are also striped. A dot of yellow pigment is sometimes found on their outstretched legs.
Range & Habitat (map)
Ornate chorus frogs primarily live in the coastal plains of North Carolina, the Florida panhandle, and eastern Alabama. They prefer forested uplands, such as longleaf pine savannas, and utilize nearby ephemeral wetlands (wetlands formed by rain) to reproduce. In the summer, they spend most of their time under sandy soil and debris to keep cool. Unlike tree frogs, ornate chorus frogs are ground-dwelling.
Diet
Ornate chorus frogs are insectivores, eating worms and insects that live on the ground. Tadpoles primarily eat aquatic insect larvae within their ephemeral wetland habitat.
Life History
Ornate chorus frogs have a lifespan of one to three years and breed in the winter. Peak breeding activity is during rain events from December to March. Males float in puddles on rafts of debris or plants, calling to females with repetitive “plinking” sounds. Females lay 20 to 100 eggs per clump, tadpoles hatch in three days, and they metamorphosize into frogs in two to three months.
Significance
Amphibians, especially those inhabiting ephemeral wetands, are very sensitive to environmental changes. Because of this, an established ornate chorus frog population is a positive indicator of water quality and overall ecosystem health. They are also an important part of the food chain, as tadpoles eat mosquito larvae.
Threats & How You Can Help
Development and a lack of prescribed burns are the main threats to their preferred habitat, the longleaf pine savanna. Additionally, poor water quality due to pollution is another threat facing the species. You can provide a cool spot for ornate chorus frogs to hide from the heat by leaving groundcover debris where it is (when it’s safe to do so).