Frog and Toad Life Cycles of Lyon County, Kansas

By Greg and Lynnette Sievert


Map of Kansas showing Lyon County

Click on a name to jump to pictures of that species :

Blanchard's Cricket Frog

American Toad

Woodhouse's Toad

Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad

Cope's Gray Treefrog

Western Chorus Frog

Northern Crawfish Frog

Plains Leopard Frog

Click on this link to see detailed Plains Leopard Frog embryo development

American Bullfrog

Southern Leopard Frog





Blanchard's Cricket Frog - Acris crepitans blanchardi



Click the right arrow to listen to Blanchard's Cricket Frogs calling

<A HREF='cricket.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Blanchard's Cricket Frog tadpole

Cricket Frog tadpole


Blanchard's Cricket Frog tadpole showing black tail tip

The black tail tip is typical for Blanchard's Cricket Frog tadpoles from Lyon Co. but it may be absent on some individuals.




Adult Blanchard's Cricket Frog

Cricket Frog Adult


Adult Blanchard's Cricket Frog

Both of these are typical color patterns for Lyon Co. specimens. They can also be a plain olive color. Notice the triangle on the top of the head.





American Toad - Bufo americanus



Click the right arrow to listen to American Toads calling

<A HREF='atoad.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


American Toad eggs

The eggs are layed in strands rather than clumps.


American Toad tadpole

American Toad tadpole


Baby American Toad

Newly metamorphosed American Toad


Adult American Toad

Adult American Toads, notice the underside is spotted.





Woodhouse's Toad - Bufo woodhousii



Click the right arrow to listen to Woodhouse's Toads calling

<A HREF='wtoad.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Woodhouse's Toad tadpole

Woodhouse's Toad tadpole


Adult Woodhouse's Toad

Adult Woodhouse's Toads, notice the belly is unspotted and often there is a dark spot in the throat area.





Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad - Gastrophryne olivacea



Click the right arrow to listen to Great Plains Narrowmouth Toads calling

<A HREF='ntoad.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad tadpole

Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad tadpole


Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad tadpole

Tadpoles of this species are the only ones in Lyon Co. to lack the dark keratinized mouthparts.


Adult Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad

Adult Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad.

In more southern parts of its range this little frog often lives in the burrows of large spiders.





Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis



Click the right arrow to listen to Cope's Gray Treefrogs calling

<A HREF='tree.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Cope's Gray Treefrog tadpole

Cope's Gray Treefrog tadpole


Cope's Gray Treefrog tadpole

Close up of Cope's Gray Treefrog tadpole mouth with keratinized mouthparts


Adult Cope's Gray Treefrogs

Cope's Gray Treefrog adults can change color from gray to green.





Western Chorus Frog - Pseudacris triseriata



Click the right arrow to listen to Western Chorus Frogs calling

<A HREF='chorus.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Western Chorus Frog tadpole's hatching

Western Chorus Frog embryos hatching


Western Chorus Frog tadpole

Western Chorus Frog tadpoles


Western Chorus Frog tadpole

Western Chorus Frog tadpole


Western Chorus Frog tadpole's mouthparts

Close up of Western Chorus Frog tadpole mouth with keratinized mouthparts


Baby Western Chorus Frog

Newly metamorphosed Western Chorus Frog


Adult Western Chorus Frogs

Two typical color patterns for Western Chorus Frog adults





Northern Crawfish Frog - Rana areolata circulosa



Click the right arrow to listen to Northern Crawfish Frogs calling

<A HREF='cfrog.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Northern Crawfish Frog tadpole

Northern Crawfish Frog tadpole.



Adult Northern Crawfish Frog

Adult Northern Crawfish Frog. Notice the white circles on the back.


Adult Northern Crawfish Frog

Adult Northern Crawfish Frog.





Plains Leopard Frog - Rana blairi


Click on this link to see detailed Plains Leopard Frog embryo development


Click the right arrow to listen to Plains Leopard Frogs calling

<A HREF='plfrog.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Plains Leopard Frog eggs

Plains Leopard Frog egg mass


Plains Leopard Frog tadpole

Plains Leopard Frog tadpole


Plains Leopard Frog tadpole's mouthparts

Close up of Plains Leopard Frog tadpole mouth with keratinized mouthparts


Adult Plains Leopard Frog

Adult Plains Leopard Frog. Notice the spot on the snout.





American Bullfrog - Rana catesbeiana



Click the right arrow to listen to American Bullfrogs calling

<A HREF='bfrog.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


American Bullfrog tadpole

American Bullfrog tadpole


American Bullfrog tadpole

Head of American Bullfrog tadpole


American Bullfrog tadpole

American Bullfrog tadpole


American Bullfrog tadpole

American Bullfrog tadpole


American Bullfrog tadpole's mouthparts

Close up of American Bullfrog tadpole mouth with keratinized mouthparts


Adult male American Bullfrog

Large adult male American Bullfrog


Juvenile and adult American Bullfrog

Young adult and older adult American Bullfrog





Southern Leopard Frog - Rana sphenocephala utricularia



Click the right arrow to listen to Southern Leopard Frogs calling

<A HREF='slfrog.mp3'>[Play Call]</A>
Audio recording © by Greg Sievert


Southern Leopard Frog tadpole

Southern Leopard Frog tadpole


Metamorphosing Southern Leopard Frog tadpole

Southern Leopard Frog tadpole with four legs, reduced tail, and appearance of adult color pattern


Baby Southern Leopard Frog

Newly metamorphosed Southern Leopard Frog


Adult Southern Leopard Frog

Adult Southern Leopard Frog. Notice there is usually no spot on the snout.




Graduate study in Herpetology at Emporia State University



Last updated on 9 August 2008

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