Northern Cricket Frog vs Southern Cricket Frog

5/2/2020

Cricket Frogs are one of the most mistaken groups of herps we have in VA. Why? Mostly because a lack of research. Southern Crickets are not as wide spread as Northerns, nor are their habitats as diverse. That said, both are hyper variable. They come in many patterns and even colors. These species are very similar, but there are some slight differences in details. Here are 9 differences between these species

Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith

Northern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith

1. Southern Cricket Frogs are ONLY found in the southern Coastal Plains. Look at the range maps carefully.

2. Southern Cricket Frogs have longer legs, that often slightly overlap at the ankle when setting.

3. Southern Cricket Frogs have sharper, "V" snouts while Northerns have blunter, "U" shaped snouts.

4. Northern Cricket Frogs seem to have a tight, equilateral (all sides the same) triangle between the eyes, while southerns have more "stretched" isosceles triangles.

5. Southern Cricket Frogs are a pine forest dweller. Northerns are not as picky, but the Southerns seem to out compete them in pine forest in their range.

Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith

Northern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith

Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith

6. Southern Crickets have cleaner, thinner thigh stripes.

7. Southerns sometimes have white margins on their patterns, especially their dorsal stripe.

8. Northerns have more webbing on the feet than Southerns. This webbing extends up the longest toe and the innermost toe to the round tip on the Northern.

9. Northern Cricket Frogs' calls sound like two stones being tapped together, while Southerns have a more metallic call, more like two "Rattlesnake-egg" magnets clacking together.

For some illustrated images to display the feet and thighs, VHS has a great reference. I have added a button to it below.

VHS Info

Northern Cricket Frog vs Southern Cricket Frog

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