Class JawsTetrapodAmniote eggUniform internal temperature Mammary glands Jawless fishes (Cephalaspido- morphi) No Jawed fishes (Osteichthyes) YesNo Amphibians (Amphibia) Yes No Reptiles (Reptilia) Yes No Birds (Aves) Yes No Mammals (Mammalia) Yes

Class Amphibia Scaleless body Smooth or warty skin Larvae, adults distinct (exceptions)

Class Amphibia Larvae Gills* Herbivore/detritivores, predators Aquatic* * A few exceptions (plethodontid salamanders) Adults Lungs* Predators Aquatic or terrestrial * A few salamanders retain gills

Order Caudata, Family Ambystomatidae (Ambystoma tigrinum: tiger salamander) Identification: adult Tail (Caudata) Costal grooves (Ambystomatidae) Yellow spots or blotches Large (to 21 cm) / Illustration from Christoffel et al. 2001

Ambystoma tigrinum: tiger salamander Identification: larva External gills Legs absent (early) or present (late)

Ambystoma tigrinum: tiger salamander Habitat Adults near/in ponds, or underground Larvae – ponds Food Invertebrates, salamanders (adults and larvae)

Ambystoma tigrinum: tiger salamander Other Egg mass in spring Migrations precede breeding

Order Anura (frogs and toads) Smooth or warty skin Adult lacks tail (hops) Larva with internal gills (legs during metamorphosis)

Family Bufonidae (Bufo americanus: American toad) Identification: adult Paratoid glands Warty skin Call a long trill Illustration from Christoffel et al. 2001

Bufo americanus: American toad Identification: larva Dark color Eyes dorsal Small (to 2.4 cm)

Bufo americanus: American toad Habitat Adults - ponds or dry areas Larvae - ponds Food Adults - invertebrates Larvae - algivores/detritivores

Bufo americanus: American toad Other Eggs in strings Antipredator defenses - toxin (paratoid glands), urinating, puffing (garter snakes)

Order Anura, Family Hylidae (Pseudacris triseriata: western chorus frog) Identification: adult Stripes (variable, broken) Smooth skin Small (to 3.9 cm) Call – finger along comb

Pseudacris triseriata: western chorus frog Identification: larva Eyes lateral Tail fin rises above body Little pigment on fin Dorsal tail musculature dark To 3.7 cm long Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991

Habitat Adults - wetland margins, ditches Larvae - ephemeral to permanent wetlands Food Adults - small invertebrates Larvae - algae Pseudacris triseriata: western chorus frog

Other Very common, tolerates disturbance Early breeder (March) Larvae develop quickly (2-2.5 months) Pseudacris triseriata: western chorus frog

Order Anura, Family Hylidae (Pseudacris crucifer: spring peeper) Identification: adult X on back Wide suction cups Smooth skin To 3.2 cm Call – birdlike peeps, jingling bells (chorus)

Pseudacris crucifer: spring peeper Identification: larva Eyes lateral Fin may rise above body Fin generally clear, musculature unpigmented To 3.4 cm

Pseudacris crucifer: spring peeper Habitat Adult - wooded areas, edges; low vegetation or on ground Larvae - wooded wetlands Diet Adults - invertebrates Larvae - algae, detritus

Pseudacris crucifer: spring peeper Other Breed April – May Single egg attached to structure Larvae morph 2-3 months Central IA is western extent of range Eggs

Order Anura, Family Hylidae (Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis: gray treefrog) Identification: adult Gray to green White spot below eye Inner legs orange Warty skin Wide suction cups To 5.1 cm Call a trill (slow to fast)

Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis: gray treefrog Identification: larva Red, tapered tail High tail fin To 3 cm Illustration from Conant and Collins (1991)

Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis: gray treefrog Habitat Adult - arboreal; on ground during breeding Larvae - wetlands Food Adults - invertebrates (grab flying insects from air) Larvae – algae, detritus

Other Breed May-July Overwinter under objects (glycerol in blood prevents freezing) Individuals change color Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis: gray treefrog

Order Anura, Family Hylidae (Acris crepitans: cricket frog) Identification: adult Somewhat warty Triangle often on head To 3.8 cm Call – clicking marbles

Acris crepitans: cricket frog Identification: larva Tail tip usually black Tail dorsal musculature with black bands To 4.4 cm Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991

Habitat Adults - prefer permanent water bodies Larvae - in water near adults Food Adults - tiny insects Larvae - algae Acris crepitans: cricket frog

Other Hop into water, return to water edge Breed March-April Larvae metamorphose 7 weeks Declining in northern states, northern IA Acris crepitans: cricket frog

Order Anura, Family Ranidae (Rana catesbeiana: bullfrog) Identification: adult Large (to > 15 cm) Green to brown body No dorsolateral ridge Call – “rumm” Christoffel et al. 2000

Rana catesbeiana: bullfrog Identification: larva Greenish, large (to > 16 cm) Black dots

Habitat Permanent water bodies (lakes, ponds, rivers) Food Adults - invertebrates and vertebrates (incl. frogs) Larvae - macroscopic algae, plants Rana catesbeiana: bullfrog

Other Breed June-July Large egg mass Larvae metamorphose in 2 yrs. Exotic in central IA – threaten native amphibians Rana catesbeiana: bullfrog

Order Anura, Family Ranidae (Rana pipiens: northern leopard frog) Identification: adult Spots (rarely unspotted) Dorsolateral ridge To 9 cm Call – long snore, grunts

Rana pipiens: northern leopard frog Identification: larva To 8.5 cm Flecks (not dots) Illustration from Conant and Collins

Habitat Permanent waters Disperse widely (often far from water) Food Adults – invertebrates Larvae – algae, plants, detritus Unspotted form Rana pipiens: northern leopard frog

Other Breed March-April Spherical/elliptical egg mass Larvae metamorphose 3 months Absorbs water transcutaneously Declining – habitat loss (incl. road kills), water pollution (chemicals), UV light(?) Rana pipiens: northern leopard frog