Wood frog (disambiguation) facts for kids

The Wood frog is a common name used for several types of frogs. When people say "wood frog," they usually mean the North American wood frog, which is known scientifically as Lithobates sylvaticus. There's also another frog called a wood frog, the Australian bullfrog (Papurana daemeli). These frogs are known for living in wooded areas and having special ways to survive cold weather.

What is a Wood Frog?

The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) is a medium-sized frog found across a large part of North America. It lives in forests, woodlands, and even tundra environments. These frogs are usually brown, tan, or rusty in color, which helps them blend in with the leaves and soil on the forest floor. They have a dark "mask" that goes from their nose, through their eye, and back to their shoulder.

Where Do Wood Frogs Live?

Wood frogs have one of the widest ranges of any North American amphibian. You can find them from the southern Appalachian Mountains all the way up to Alaska and Canada. They are very adaptable and can live in many different habitats, as long as there are temporary pools of water for breeding. These temporary pools are often called "vernal pools" because they appear in spring.

Wood Frog Habitat

Wood frogs prefer moist woodlands with plenty of leaf litter. This leaf litter provides cover from predators and helps keep the ground moist. They spend most of their lives on land, but they need water for breeding. They often choose vernal pools because these pools usually dry up later in the year, which means fish cannot live in them. This protects the frog eggs and tadpoles from being eaten by fish.

What Do Wood Frogs Eat?

Wood frogs are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. They mostly eat small invertebrates, which are animals without backbones. Young frogs and tadpoles have different diets.

Adult Wood Frog Diet

Adult wood frogs eat a variety of insects and other small creatures. Their diet includes:

• Spiders
• Slugs
• Beetles
• Ants
• Flies
• Caterpillars

They use their long, sticky tongues to catch their prey quickly.

Tadpole Diet

Wood frog tadpoles are mostly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They feed on algae, decaying plant matter, and tiny bits of organic material found in the water. As they grow, they might also eat small aquatic invertebrates or even other tadpoles if food is scarce.

Life Cycle of the Wood Frog

The life cycle of the wood frog is fascinating, especially how they deal with cold weather. They have a unique way of surviving winter.

Reproduction and Breeding

Wood frogs are among the first amphibians to breed in the spring. They often start breeding when there is still ice on the ponds! Males will gather in vernal pools and call to attract females. The calls sound a bit like a quacking duck.

Egg Laying

Once a female chooses a male, she lays a large mass of eggs, often containing 1,000 to 3,000 eggs. These egg masses are usually attached to submerged plants or sticks. Many females often lay their eggs close together, forming a large "community" egg mass. This helps keep the eggs warmer and offers some protection.

Tadpole Development

The eggs hatch into tadpoles within a few weeks, depending on the water temperature. The tadpoles grow quickly, usually transforming into tiny froglets in about 6 to 10 weeks. This fast development is important because vernal pools can dry up quickly.

Surviving Winter: Freezing Frogs!

One of the most amazing things about wood frogs is their ability to survive freezing solid during winter. They are one of the few vertebrates that can do this.

How They Freeze

When temperatures drop below freezing, the wood frog's body produces a natural "antifreeze" called glucose (a type of sugar). This glucose floods their cells, protecting them from damage as ice crystals form in their body tissues. Their heart stops beating, they stop breathing, and they appear to be dead.

Thawing Out

When spring arrives and temperatures rise, the ice in their bodies melts, and the frog slowly thaws out. Their heart starts beating again, they begin to breathe, and they become active. This incredible ability allows them to live in very cold climates where other frogs cannot survive.