Acris crepitans blanchardi (Blanchard's cricket frog)

Acris crepitans blanchardi

Blanchard's cricket frog

Photo by Tom R. Johnson

Key Characteristics

The Blanchard's Cricket Frog is a small, warty-skinned frog (0.6-1.5 inches adult length) that is usually tan, brown, gray or olive green, sometimes with scattered green, reddish, or black blotches and a broad light stripe down the back. A dark triangular mark is usually visible between the eyes on top of the head. It has a distinctive breeding call consisting of a rapid series of metallic clicks, similar to the sound made when two pebbles or marbles are tapped together.

Status and Rank

State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable
Global Rank: G5T5

Occurrences

County Name	Number of Occurrences	Year Last Observed
Allegan	4	2002
Barry	17	2003
Berrien	8	2004
Branch	3	1950
Calhoun	6	2007
Cass	3	2009
Clinton	2	1948
Eaton	1	1942
Hillsdale	2	1948
Ingham	2	1968
Ionia	1	1947
Jackson	5	1957
Kalamazoo	18	2005
Kent	6	1997
Lapeer	2	2002
Leelanau	3	1985
Lenawee	6	2005
Livingston	7	1976
Monroe	1	1913
Oakland	1	1968
Ottawa	3	2003
St. Clair	1	2005
St. Joseph	1	1909
Van Buren	8	1997
Washtenaw	8	2005

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs typically inhabit the open edges of permanent ponds, lakes, floodings, bogs, seeps and slow-moving streams and rivers. They also can utilize temporary water bodies if near permanent water. They prefer open or partially vegetated mud flats, muddy or sandy shorelines, and mats of emergent aquatic vegetation in shallow water. Blanchard's Cricket Frogs also can be found in farm ponds, drainage ditches and gravel ponds, although polluted water is poorly tolerated. This frog is thought to be the most aquatic of North American treefrogs and usually does not leave the vicinity of water after the breeding season except during rainy weather.

Natural Community Types

Management

Maintenance of suitable wetland habitats and connectivity among habitat patches is critical for conservation of extant Blanchard's Cricket Frog populations or metapopulations. Wetland creation or restoration would provide potential habitat for this species. Maintaining open or sparsely vegetated areas along the shorelines of suitable water bodies also would benefit this species. Since cricket frogs are highly restricted to aquatic habitats, they may be especially susceptible to aquatic pollutants. Hence, the use of chemicals should be avoided or limited in areas in which the runoff would impact cricket frog sites. Maintaining buffers of natural vegetation between water bodies and agricultural fields or developed areas also would help reduce the input of chemical runoff into cricket frog habitat. Fish introductions into extant cricket frog sites also may pose a threat to cricket frogs and should be re-examined and avoided or discontinued when possible.

Active Period

Breeding from second week of May to third week of July

Active from fourth week of March to fourth week of October

Survey Methods

The best way to survey for this species is to listen in the evening and at night (i.e., after sunset and until about 1-2 am) for the distinctive clicking calls of the males during the breeding season. Frog call surveys should be conducted on multiple days or nights during the breeding season and should be conducted during appropriate weather conditions. Humidity and cloud cover are not critical for breeding frog call surveys, but a sudden drop in temperature can cause frogs to stop calling. Visual surveys for adults and/or tadpoles also can be conducted during the active period, especially during or after the breeding season. Surveys for adults or tadpoles in the water can be conducted using dip nets. However, it is generally difficult to visually observe these frogs because of their small size and tendency to stay in or near the water.

Breeding call surveys
- Survey Period: From second week of May to third week of July
  - Survey Comments: High humidity or light rain optimal but can hear during other conditions as well except avoid surveying on cold, windy nights or during heavy rain.
  - Survey Comments: High humidity or light rain optimal but can hear during other conditions as well except avoid surveying on cold, windy nights or during heavy rain.

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Heyer, W.R., M.A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, L.C. Hayek, and M.S. Foster, eds. 1994. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 364pp.

Karns, D.R. 1986. Field Herpetology: Methods for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota. Occ. Pap. No. 18. J.F. Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Technical References

Burkett, R.D. 1984. An ecological study of the cricket frog, Acris crepitans. Pp. 89-103. In: Seigel, R.A., L.E. Hunt, J.L. Knight, L. Malaret, and N.L. Zuschlag (eds.). 1984. Vertebrate Ecology and Systematics. Museum of Natural History, The University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Harding, J.H. 1997.Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378pp.

Lee, Y., D.A. Hyde and J. Legge. 2000. Special Animal Abstract for Acris crepitans blanchardi (Blanchard's cricket frog). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4pp.

Minton, S.A. 1972. Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. 3: 346pp.

Smith, P.W. 1961. The amphibians and reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, Carbondale. Bulletin No. 28. 298 pp.

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/explorer [Accessed Feb 9, 2010]