Summer heat brings out large crooning frogs

Green frog, Rana clamitans

Oddly, green frogs (Rana clamitans) aren't always green. They can be green to bronze to brown, mixing it up to better blend into their watery environs. They are the second largest species found in our area, humbled in size by only those big, beefy boys: the bullfrogs.

You can find and hear both species in the Plaza Pond in front of the Visitor Center.

The bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is a low, rolling thunder "jugggg-oo-rummmm," "jugggg-o-rummmm." While the green frog sounds like the plucking of a rather thick, out-of-tune banjo string, "gunk" "gunk" "gunk." Both also love to croon in the sultry, hot days of summer. 

The frog in the photo is a male. How do I know? Well ask me. 

- Text and photo by Stephen Lyn Bales 

Resonant resident Rana croons from Plaza Pond

The warm temperatures of the past week also brought out the resonant resident bullfrogs in the Plaza Pond. Their deep voiced—"jug-o-rum," "jug-o-rum"—could be heard every afternoon.

Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) are the largest of the 14 species of frogs and toads found in the Tennessee Valley. The biological family Ranidae is the so called "true frogs." They are usually largish species characterized by slim waists and wrinkled skin; many have thin ridges running along their backs but generally lack bumps and "warts" like typical toads.

Bullfrogs can reach a body length of six inches with a whooping eight inches being the record length. The gender can be determined by the size of the eardrum (the round membrane behind the eye). Females have an eardrum (tympanum) the same size as their eye; a male's eardrum is larger than his eye.

At Ijams, look for bullfrogs in the Plaza Pond in front of the Visitor Center.

- Text and photo by Stephen Lyn Bales

Warm, sunny day brings out early bullfrogs

Warm day.

Almost even hot.

Bullfrogs, those beefy-boys of summer concerts, are starting to appear in the Plaza Pond in front of the Visitor Center.

Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana: named in honor of famed naturalist Mark Catesby) are the largest frogs in our region; as big as a whoppers without pickles. It's still too early for their "jug-o-rum, jug-o-rummmmm, jug-o-rummmmmm" solos, but it's certainly warm enough for them to sun themselves.

It must feel good after a long winter spent in the leaves and muck at the bottom of the pond to feel the sunshine again.

- Text and photo by Stephen Lyn Bales