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By Katie Kiehl
Geographic Range
Wood frogs, Rana sylvatica, are only native to the Nearctic region. They are found from northern Georgia and in isolated colonies in the central highlands in the eastern to central parts of Alabama, up through the northeastern United States, and all the way across Canada into Alaska. They are found farther north than any other North American reptile or amphibian. They are the only frogs found north of the Arctic Circle. (Conant and Collins, 1998)
Habitat
Wood frogs are common in woodlands across their range. They are most commonly found in woodlands in the summer, under stones, stumps and leaf litter in the winter, and wood ponds in the breeding season.
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
terrestrial 
.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest .
Physical Description
(1.38 to 2.99 in)
Wood frogs range from 3.5 to 7.6 cm. Females are much larger than males. This species exhibits a number of color morphs, usually browns, tans and rust, but can also be found in shades of green and gray. In all cases however, they can be distinguished by a black patch that extends over the tympanum to the base of the front limb. It is this characteristic that causes them to be referred to as the frog with the "robber's mask". They are also known to have a white spot on the upper lip. Most specimens have a light yellowish brown middorsal lateral fold. The underparts of the frogs are yellowish and sometimes greenish-white, with male frogs having more brilliant colors on the ventral aspect of the legs. (Dickerson, 1931; Mansker, 1998)
Some key physical features:
ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: female larger, male more colorful.
Development
The eggs have a very good tolerance of temperature and those that are laid in water that afterwards freezes are not killed. They develop once temperature rises again. The length of incubation for these eggs varies depending on temperature. If laid in cold waters, then development is slow, and lasts at least a month; if, however, the eggs are laid in waters with a higher temperature, the development is much quicker, lasting only 9 to 10 days. After about a week to a month the eggs hatch and tiny, almost black, tadpoles emerge. The tadpoles are about 38 to 48 mm in length. It can take them a further 61 to 115 days to undergo metamorphosis and become froglets. The froglets are usually very small. They develop into full grown, sexually mature, adults generally within the next 2 years.
Special features of growth:
metamorphosis .
Reproduction
Wood frogs breed once yearly.
March to May
Even though males do call, they generally have a non-calling behavioral mating tactic. The males move around the breeding area actively searching for a female. Occasionally this results in a male to male fight for a female already in amplexus. Both of these reproductive strategies are typical of explosive breeders. In an explosive breeding situation the success of the male in finding an available and willing female is strictly density-dependent.
Wood frogs are seasonal breeders that begin very early in the spring. They are the first frogs to begin calling, often before the ice is completely off the breeding ponds. These frogs mate as early as March and the breeding season will last until the beginning of May at the very latest. While the calls of these male frogs are very abundant in season, once the breeding season is over you will no longer hear their calls. During the time of the calls however, they create a duck-like quacking sound, described by some as a "lot of chuckling". Once mate choice is accomplished and amplexus occurs, the female will lay a globular egg mass, most often in the deepest part of a pond. Each egg mass measures about 10 to 13 cm in diameter, and can contain from 1000 to 3000 eggs. The masses can either be attached to a twig or grasses, or they can be free standing. After about a week or so the egg mass begins to flatten out, allowing it to rest on the surface of the water. The jelly around the eggs becomes green in color creating a great camouflage. The mass then looks like a floating mass of green pond scum. The green color of the jelly is due to the presence of numerous small green algae. Tadpoles undergo complete metamorphosis in 2 months and reach sexual maturity in approximately 2 years.
Wood frogs have a great deal of selective pressures on both sexes. A larger female is often correlated with a stronger fecundity, for larger females are known to produce larger clutches. This may lead to a higher survival rate in offspring. On the other hand, male mating success is also positively size-dependent, allowing larger females the ability to "win" the male. (Conant and Collins, 1998)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (external ); oviparous .
Female wood frogs provide their eggs with yolk before laying them. Once the eggs are laid and fertilized, the parents abandon them.
Parental investment:
pre-fertilization (provisioning, protecting: female).
Lifespan/Longevity
No information is available on the lifespan of wood frogs.
Behavior
Wood frog tadpoles have been shown to have the strongest powers of kin recognition yet discovered in amphibian larvae. These tadpoles can recognize kin using maternal and paternal factors. They have been documented (by marking them with dye and releasing them into natural habitats) to aggregate back together. This may be a survival mechanism allowing them the potential benefit of food, thermoregulation, and defense against predators. (Blaustein and Walls, 1995; Savage, 1961)
Home Range
Wood frogs tend to be very territorial. They generally occupy an area of about 100 square meters.
Key behaviors:
terricolous; diurnal ; motile ; solitary ; territorial .
Communication and Perception
As stated in the reproduction section, males actively search for females during the breeding season; however, they are unable to tell males from females by sight. Sex recognition is accomplished by the males embracing other frogs (regardless of sex) and releasing those that are not fat enough to be females full of eggs. If a male is embraced he lets out a loud croak. A female will also be let go if spawning has already occurred, because of her thin nature.
The call of a wood frog is often compared with the sound of a quacking duck or a squawking chicken. They tend to repeat the call several times in a row when trying to attract females.
Communicates with:
acoustic .
Food Habits
Wood frogs eat a variety of insects and other small invertebrates, especially spiders, beetles, bugs, moth larvae, slugs and snails. Larvae consume algae. (Chenard, 1998)
Animal Foods:
insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks; terrestrial worms.
Plant Foods:
algae.
Predation
Ecosystem Roles
Wood frogs provide important food for many animals as well as helping to control insect populations.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Wood frogs, along with other amphibians, are great indicators of environmental health. Recent population declines in species of amphibians should be of great concern. Wood frogs may also help to control pests.
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
research and education; controls pest population.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
Though wood frogs are fairly common in most areas of appropriate habitat, loss of habitat to agriculture and suburban development has put them on the list of "species of special concern" in some areas.
Other Comments
Wood frogs have perfected the cryogenic freezing process. In the winter, as much as 35-45% of the frogs body may freeze, and turn to ice. Ice crystals form beneath the skin and become interspersed among the body's skeletal muscles. During the freeze the frog's breathing, blood flow, and heart beat cease. Freezing is made possible by specialized proteins and glucose, which prevent intracellular freezing and dehydration.
For More Information
Find Rana sylvatica information at
Contributors
Allison Poor (editor), University of Michigan.
Katie Kiehl (author), Michigan State University.
James Harding 
(editor), Michigan State University.
