Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) In The Garden

July 2^nd – 9^th, 2016. A few years ago, we had to relocate a watergarden barrel during some renovations. I decided to move it back to its original location just recently.

The barrel had a couple of inches of wet leaf litter in the bottom. I tipped the leaf litter out onto the ground and moved the container to its new location. 

When I went back to get its bricks and plant container, I realized that a frog – a Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) - was sitting in the leaf litter near my foot. I picked it up and placed it back into the barrel. Some duckweed, re=introduced into the container, soon spread over the water’s surface to provide cover. 

It wasn’t long before the frog was comfortable enough to climb out in the late afternoon and…

sit on the side of the barrel to hunt for insects. Its tympanum, much larger than its eye, indicates that it is a male.

Recently, he has also begun to hunt at various times during the day.

When he’s not sitting on the side of the barrel, he may often be found…

floating in the duckweed.

Occasionally, he will make its way to another shallow container to hunt.

Recently a second Green Frog has joined the first one in the container where I’ve seen them siting together on the edge of the barrel. 

Reference:

Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Green/Bronze Frog (Rana [Lithbates] clamitans]

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

August 1^st. One of our resident Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans). It spends most of its time floating at the surface of the water and diving under when disturbed. Late in the afternoon, however, it often climbs out and sits on the rim of the container.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

August 6th, 2014. 

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) 

Walton County, GA

At least three Green Frogs were living in the container. All but one slid under the water when I looked but this one stayed around a little longer.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

April 11th, 2013. I was on my way to check plants in the greenhouse. We have several water containers near the door to the greenhouse that serve as breeding pools for the Southeastern Chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum). On this day, however, a Green Frog (Lithobates – formerly Rana – clamitans) was sitting on the surface enjoying the warmth. We know that Green frogs live in these containers but don’t often get the chance to see them. I was lucky enough to manage to get my camera and back to photograph this frog.

Two subspecies – the Bronze frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) and the Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanota) – are recognized. The back of the Northern Green Frog is covered with brown or gray blotches whereas the back of the Bronze Frog has no blotches. Based on the fact that there are dark blotches on its back, this frog is a Northern Green Frog.

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Identification Resources: University of Georgia Museum of Natural History: Green Frog/BronzeFrog (Rana clamitans)