Gopher frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gopher frog |
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The gopher frog (Lithobates capito) is a special kind of frog. It lives only in the southeastern United States. These frogs are part of the Ranidae family. You can usually find them near ponds in places like sandhills, flatwoods, and scrub areas. These homes are often found along the Atlantic coastal plain.
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Types of Gopher Frogs
A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has small differences. The gopher frog has two main subspecies:
- The Carolina gopher frog (L. c. capito)
- The Florida gopher frog (L. c. aesopus)
There was once another type called the dusky gopher frog (L. sevosus). It was thought to be a subspecies. But in 2001, scientists decided it was different enough to be its own species. It is also known as the Mississippi gopher frog.
Where Gopher Frogs Live
Gopher frogs live along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Their range goes from southern North Carolina down to Florida. They also live west along the Gulf Coast, reaching the Tombigbee River in Alabama. The Florida gopher frog only lives in the Florida peninsula.
Today, gopher frogs are not found everywhere in these areas. Their homes are now in separate, small patches. This is mostly because many longleaf pine forests, where they used to live, have been lost.
Gopher Frog Life and Habitat
Gopher frogs live in different types of habitats. These include flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak forests, sand pine scrub, and oak hammocks. They move between these areas.
They use temporary or semi-permanent ponds for breeding. These ponds might dry up sometimes. When they are not breeding, gopher frogs move to higher, drier land. They often hide in burrows made by gopher tortoises. They also use tunnels dug by crayfish or rodents. Sometimes, they hide in holes left by fallen longleaf pine trees.
Frogs usually move out of their breeding areas at night when it is raining. They can travel quite far, sometimes up to 3.5 kilometers (about 2.2 miles). This journey takes them to their summer hiding spots. During these travels, especially in mid-May, gopher frogs can be in danger. They might be harmed by controlled burns or caught by predators.
Protecting Gopher Frogs
The biggest dangers to gopher frogs are losing their homes and stopping natural fires. Gopher frogs need small, temporary pools to lay their eggs each year. These pools in pine flatwoods are disappearing. They are lost because of new buildings and because fires are stopped. When fires are stopped, forests grow too thick and cover the natural open areas that gopher frogs need.
To help gopher frogs survive, people use special methods. They do prescribed burns, which are controlled fires that help keep the habitat healthy. They also buy and protect land where gopher frogs live. These actions are very important for the future of the gopher frog.
