Slides
1a - 6
7 - 14
15 - 22
23 - 30
31 - 38
39 - 46
47 - 54
55 - 62
63 - 70
71 - 78
These pages have 80 slides accompanied by a description. This is not a slide program but rather a collection of slides and information. If you would like to view a slide program assembled from these slides, go to the slide program index.
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47. Fowler's toad. The Fowler's toad is similar to the American toad both in appearance and behavior and is difficult to distinguish from it. It arrives at vernal pools and other water bodies later than the American toad and its call is a short nasal trill much like the sound of a baby crying. |
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48. Spadefoot toad. The spadefoot toad is considered facultative in MA for vernal pool identification purposes. It breeds in vernal pools and other temporary pools which might not hold water for sufficient time to be considered vernal pools. It is an organism of "Special Concern" and the location of spadefoots should be reported to NHESP whenever encountered. |
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49. Leopard frog. The Leopard frog is a facultative organism . Its population seems to have declined throughout the region. It breeds in all types of waters including vernal pools. Its spots are irregularly arranged on its back. |
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50. Pickerel frog. The Pickerel frog is a facultative organism found breeding in a variety of wetland habitats, including vernal pools. This specimen is in an area of bog plants including the sundew on the left. Its spots are rectangular and arranged in two rows down the back. |
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51. Green frog. The green frog is the common frog of a variety of wetlands. It breeds in the more permanent vernal pools and its larvae overwinter and metamorphose the following summer. The tadpoles can often be seen swimming beneath the ice of a vernal pool. |
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52. Bullfrog. The bullfrog breeds in permanent waters and may do so in vernal pools which are semi-permanent. It will travel considerable distances overland from wintering sites to feeding resources and may be found in even temporary vernal pools. It feeds on most anything which moves and it can get into its cavernous mouth |
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53. Bullfrog tadpole. The bullfrog tadpole goes through two winters before changing to an air-breathing frog. Some of the tadpoles reach tremendous size and can be a curiosity to the uninitiated. They feed on plant matter, such as leaves, found in the pool. |
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54. Gray treefrog. The gray treefrog is a facultative vernal pool species. It breeds in a variety of wetlands, including vernal pools, where it is often heard in June calling from trees near the water's edge. It is the larger of our two tree frogs (other is peeper) at 2". The color varies from green to gray. The recently metamorphosed juvenile (shown) is always bright green. |
