Acris blanchardi

Scientific name. Acris blanchardi

Common Name. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

General information. Acris blanchardi is diurnal and active all year. This species can be seen basking in the sunlight, but when threatened, it will jump quickly away or into the water.

Protected status. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Small frog with long snout Short hind legs with webbed toes.

Coloration. Dark bars on hind limbs Characteristic backward-pointing pigmented triangle on top of head Three subspecies in Texas, differentiated by dorsal coloration and shape of snout.

General distribution. In North America, Acris blanchardi has a broad range extending through most of the southern and midwestern U. S.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Acris blanchardi is found throughout most of the state, except the western Panhandle and extreme western Trans-Pecos.

Habitat. Acris blanchardi prefers shallow ponds with vegetation and full sun or shallow gravel-lined creeks. Near the Gulf Coast, A. crepitans can be found in shallow pools of brackish water in close proximity to the sea.

Reproduction. Breeding in Acris blanchardi occurs over an extended period, lasting from February through late summer.

Size. One of the smaller frog species in Texas, adult Acris blanchardi grow to 1.25-3.5 cm (0.5-1.5 in) in length.

Calls.

Map. Orange counties indicate new county records since previous Herps of Texas update in 1998; all other colored counties reflect known distribution prior to 1998 for species and/or subspecies. Map is based on museum voucher specimens.