Lithobates areolatus areolatus

Geographic Range

Rana areolata is found in the central to southern region of the United States. There are 3 subspecies of R. areolata . They are R. a. areolata (crawfish frog), R. a. circulosa (crayfish frog), and R. a. aesopus (gopher frog). The different subspecies of R. areolata are found in generally the same area, around the Mississippi Valley. Rana areolata areolata is found in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Kansas. Rana areolata circulosa is found in the states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Rana areolata aesopus is found in Florida.

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic nearctic
  • native native

Habitat

Grasslands, prairies, and woodlands are areas where R. areolata is most likely to be encountered. However, it is hard to find R. areolata because it lives underground most of the year in old, vacant burrows of other animals. The opening of these burrows are about 76.2 mm wide and are usually covered with grass. However, during the mating season, R. areolata resides near river floodplains, ponds, and lakes.

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate
• terrestrial terrestrial
• freshwater freshwater

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland

• Aquatic Biomes
• lakes and ponds
• rivers and streams

• Other Habitat Features
• riparian riparian

Physical Description

The length of the adult R. areolata is between 63.5 and 114.3 mm. It has a large head, which is 1/3 of its body size. This frog has large eyes and its ears are anywhere from 1/2 - 2/3 the size of its eye. Rana areolata is short and stout, and its body is a grayish or brownish color with spots. These spots range in size from small to large, they are a darker shade of brown than the body, and they are outlined in a lighter shade of tan. The hidden parts of the legs, feet, and groin area are a yellowish color, while its belly is white. The skin on the back of R. areolata is warty and has a rough feel to it. Rana areolata has long, well-developed hind legs. The length of the frog's strong legs is equal to the distance between the leg and the eye of the frog, or its nostril. Rana areolata has 4 digits connected to its legs, and the fourth is quite long and is not webbed together with the other 3 digits. The male's thumb is slightly enlarged compared to that of the female.

• Other Physical Features
• ectothermic ectothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes shaped differently

Development

The female lays anywhere from 3,000 - 7,000 eggs in a large mass. The female usually lays its eggs in shallow water, near tall grass. Upon hatching, the tadpole is anywhere from 38.1 - 50.8 mm in length. Tadpoles metamorphose in midsummer of their second year, generally the first week of July. Rana areolata becomes sexually mature no earlier than 3 years of age.

• Development - Life Cycle
• metamorphosis metamorphosis

Reproduction

Rana areolata breeds during the months from February to April, and it is sometimes seen breeding in large numbers. After a heavy rainfall, R. areolata normally comes out of its underground home, and heads toward a lake or river to breed. The male attracts the female's attention by producing a breeding call, which sounds like a deep snore. The female lays anywhere from 3,000 - 7,000 eggs in a large mass. The female usually lays its eggs in shallow waters, near tall grasses.

• Key Reproductive Features
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
  • external external
• oviparous oviparous

Behavior

Rana areolata is a solitary and secretive species that is generally quiet. However, during the mating season the male is quite loud when attempting to get the attention of the female, and this frog is also known to mate in large numbers. The male's breeding call is a loud, deep snore, and it is known to sound as if he is saying "waaaaaater." Rana areolata hides throughout most of the year, except during February and April (the mating season). It is hard to catch R. areolata because it lives most of its life underground and therefore avoids being caught by humans or predators. These frogs are quite fast on land, yet slow movers in the water. Its only defense mechanism in the water is to swim to the bottom of the lake or pond by keeping its front legs close to the body while using its hind legs to propel itself forward.

• Key Behaviors
• saltatorial saltatorial
• natatorial natatorial
• motile motile

Communication and Perception

Male R. areolata produce calls to attract females in the mating season. The male's breeding call is a loud, deep snore, and it is known to sound as if he is saying "waaaaaater."

• Communication Channels
• acoustic acoustic

• Other Communication Modes
• choruses choruses

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Rana areolata generally eats insects , as well as small crayfish , amphibians , and reptiles .

• Primary Diet
• carnivore carnivore
  • insectivore insectivore

• Animal Foods
• amphibians
• reptiles
• insects
• terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Predation

Carnivorous fish will eat tadpoles of this species. It is hard to catch adult R. areolata because it lives most of its life underground and therefore avoids being caught by humans or predators. These frogs are quite fast on land, yet slow movers in the water. Its only defense mechanism in the water is to swim to the bottom of the lake or pond by keeping its front legs close to the body while using its hind legs to propel itself forward.

Ecosystem Roles

Rana areoleta is a generalist carnivore, and may impact the populations of many species of small vertebrates and invertebrates. It may also be a prey item for other species, especially before metamorphosis.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Information is unknown.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Information is unknown.

Conservation Status

Although these frogs are not listed as endangered or threatened, they may be in decline in some areas due to the introductions of carnivorous fish.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Matthew Wund (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Kimberly Adams (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Dickerson, Mary C., 1908. The Frog Book . New York: Doubleday, Page, and Company.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, January 21, 1999. "Rana areolata Crawfish Frog" (On-line). Accessed February 21, 2001 at http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/herpdist/species/ra_areolat.html .

Johnson, Tom R., 1982. "Missouri's Toads and Frogs" (On-line). Accessed 09/29/04 at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/herpetol/frog/ .

Ken Crawford, M., Jeff Warwick. January 11, 2001. "Frogs and Toads of Kentucky" (On-line). Accessed March 19, 2001 at http://bioweb.wku.edu/froglogger/default.html .

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, May 21, 1997. "The Frogs and Toads of Tennessee" (On-line). Accessed March 13,2001 at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/nh/tnfrogs.htm .

Wright, Anna A., , Wright, Albert H.. 1942. Handbook of Frogs and Toads . Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Company, Inc..

Wright, Anna A., , Wright, Albert H.. 1995. Handbook of Frogs and Toads Of The United States And Canada Third Edition . Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates.