Spring Peeper

Common Name:
Spring Peeper
Scientific Name:
Pseudacris crucifer
Type:
Amphibians
Diet:
Carnivore
Group Name:
Army
Average Life Span In The Wild:
3 years
Size:
1 inch
Weight:
0.11 to 0.18 ounces
IUCN Red List Status:
Least concern
Current Population Trend:
Stable

Spring peepers are to the amphibian world what American robins are to the bird world. As their name implies, they begin emitting their familiar sleigh-bell-like chorus right around the beginning of spring.

Habitat

Found in wooded areas and grassy lowlands near ponds and swamps in the central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States, these tiny, well-camouflaged amphibians are rarely seen. But the mid-March crescendo of nighttime whistles from amorous males is for many a sign that winter is over.

Coloring and Size

Spring peepers are tan or brown in color with dark lines that form a telltale X on their backs. They grow to about 1.5 inches in length, and have large toe pads for climbing, although they are more at home amid the loose debris of the forest floor.

Behavior

They are nocturnal creatures, hiding from their many predators during the day and emerging at night to feed on such delicacies as beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.

They mate and lay their eggs in water and spend the rest of the year in the forest. In the winter, they hibernate under logs or behind loose bark on trees, waiting for the spring thaw and their chance to sing.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
Photograph by SCOTT ARVICKSON, National Geographic Your Shot

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