HERPING VIRGINIA
  • Home
    • Events
  • Explore
    • Ty's Herp Guide >
      • Frogs
      • Salamanders
      • Turtles
      • Lizards
      • Snakes
    • Herping How-to's
    • Herping Resources
    • Ty's Articles
    • The Archives
    • Quizzes
  • Trip Reports
  • Herp ID Help
  • About

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
Picture
Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith
Picture
Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith
Picture
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.
Picture
Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith
Picture
Northern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith
Picture
Southern Cricket Frog - © Ty Smith
Picture
Northern 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. 
Picture
​Southern Cricket Frog - © David Weisenbeck
Picture
​​Northern Cricket Frog - © David Weisenbeck
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

Comments are closed.

    Species Profiles

    This page contains species information and links to external sites.

    Categories

    All
    1. Frogs
    2. Salamanders
    3. Turtles
    4. Lizards
    5. Snakes
    A. Eastern Shore
    B. Coastal Plain
    C. Piedmont
    D. Blue Ridge
    E. Valley & Ridge
    F. Mount Rogers
    G. Cumberland Plateau
    Similar Species Profiles

Picture
Herping Virginia encourages all naturalists to practice ethical, safe, and sustainable herping. The use of proper herping methods and techniques is beneficial to both wildlife and herpers. Visit the links below for more information.
Herping Virginia is based in Southside Virginia.
Contact: [email protected]
Facebook: Herping Virginia
Instagram: @herpingvirginia

Ethical Herping
Copyright ​© 2024 Herping Virginia 
  • Home
    • Events
  • Explore
    • Ty's Herp Guide >
      • Frogs
      • Salamanders
      • Turtles
      • Lizards
      • Snakes
    • Herping How-to's
    • Herping Resources
    • Ty's Articles
    • The Archives
    • Quizzes
  • Trip Reports
  • Herp ID Help
  • About