The following amphibians are considered species at risk. If you see any species at risk, please Report your observations to HHLT, or directly to our project biologist, Paul Heaven, Glenside Ecological Services Ltd. Click here to download the Species at Risk Observation Summary Sheet and send it to us (see contact info) or send an email to Paul Heaven, pheaven@glenside-eco.ca
Western Chorus Frog: Great Lakes - St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield population
The Western Chorus Frog (Great Lakes- St Lawrence - Canadian Shield population) (Pseudacris maculata pop. 1) is categorized as Threatened nationally, and Not at Risk provincially.
The Western Chorus Frog is a small tree frog that has a slightly elongated body shaped like a small pear, a narrow, pointed head, and long toes. Coloration varies from brown to grey to olive, and it has three distinctive dark lines along the back that may be continuous or broken into segments. There is an additional line on each side of the body, extending from the tympanum to the groin. Males have a vocal sac that appears as a yellow balloon when expanded. The male call resembles the sound of a fingernail drawn along a metallic comb.
There are two distinct portions of the Canadian population that are defined as the Carolinian population and the Great Lakes- St Lawrence - Canadian Shield population. The latter is found in the County of Haliburton. The Western Chorus Frog is a lowland terrestrial species found on the ground or on low bushes or plants. It breeds in shallow or small aquatic habitats consisting mostly of temporary ponds and wetlands that become dry in the summer. During non-breeding season, the Western Chorus Frog is found in marshes and damp places, wooded areas near water, and fallow lands and woods near breeding sites. The Western Chorus Frog hibernates in terrestrial habitats such as under rocks, logs and in leaf litter.
The diet of the Western Chorus Frog varies in accordance with its life cycle. As tadpoles, the Western Chorus Frog feeds on algae, and as metamorphs the diet shifts to small invertebrates such as beetles, mites and other small arthropods. Reflective of their terrestrial habits, adult Western Chorus Frogs feed primarily on terrestrial invertebrates such as ants, spiders, slugs, and snails.
Threats to the Western Chorus Frog include habitat destruction or alteration from development and intensive agriculture; habitat fragmentation and related road mortality; and chemical pollutants particularly nutrient loading, pesticides and herbicides.