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| The Wood Frog has a prominent black "mask" extending from the tip of its snout through the eye and tympanum (can be called the Frog's eardrum). A light stripe is often found down middle of its back. The Wood Frog is a medium sized frog reaching lengths up to 7 cm but more often only 3.5 cm in size. It is generally brown, but may vary from various shades from olive green to almost black. Wood Frogs are found throughout much of Canada where winters are very severe. In the spring, this Frog is found in temporary pools in or near Algonquin Highlands’ rich woodlands. Early spring, before ice has disappeared from the waters in the Algonquin Highlands breeding begins. Swarms of pairs of Wood Frogs lay their fertilized egg masses within 1 or 2 days, then disappear into the surrounding countryside. Egg masses are attached to submerged willows, sedges or winter-killed cattails and hatch in 1 to 2 weeks. Young frogs feed on mosquitos, beetles, spiders, and flies, and are consumed by large birds, raccoons, and snakes. They survive winter by being able to withstand being frozen down to -5°C (23°F) or lower. They do this by increasing the amount of glucose stored in their cell fluids. The high concentration acts as antifreeze, lowering the freeze point. By preventing the cells from freezing on the inside the cell membrane is not ruptured, and the frog survives. Nevertheless, 1/3 of the frogs body fluids, mainly interstitial fluids (fluids between the cells) can become frozen during the winter without harming the frog. Its call is series of short raspy quacks which sound like "quork, quork, quork". |
(Family Ranidae)
Rana sylvatica
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