Little is known about the lifespan of P. streckeri. However, there have been some accounts of these frogs living up to 3 years in the wild. Since Strecker's chorus frogs are small, they have numerous predators. This is likely to decrease their average lifespan. As they are not available in the pet trade, captive lifespans are unknown.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 0 to 3 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 2 years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 2 to 3 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 1.5 years.
An abundance of predators are found in P. streckeri habitats. These include garter snakes, raccoons, snapping turtles, dragonfly larvae, and a wide variety of birds, fish, other snakes, and mammals. A predator deterrent used by Strecker's chorus frogs is their ability to burrow and stay burrowed for long amounts of time. Their ability to eat underground allows them to stay buried and essentially only come out to mate. Tadpoles will seek shelter in or around any underwater structure; they often are found among aquatic plants.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Frogs in the genus Pseudacris are known for their calls, giving them the common name "chorus frogs". Strecker's chorus frogs are stockier than other members of the genus. Strecker's chorus frogs reach a maximum size of 5 cm. Females range from 32 to 46 mm long, while males range from 25 to 41 mm. The subspecies P. illinoensis tends to be slightly smaller, with a maximum length of 3.7 cm.
Dorsal coloration of P. streckeri is brown, gray, olive, or green, with contrasting black spots. Spots may appear grey to brownor green. Dark, sometimes black, splotchy stripes run down the back parallel to the spine. The epidermis is rough in texture, more similar to toads than frogs. These frogs also have a distingushing dark stripe though the eye, and a dark spot or bar beneath the eye. Strecker's chorus frogs differ from other chorus frogs because they lack a continuous thin light line on the upper lip. During the breeding seasons the species displays sexual dimorphism, as the throat coloration in males becomes darker. Pseudacris streckeri begins development as tadpoles. They follow the same development patterns as all frogs. Within two months after tadpoles begin to develop into frogs, the distinct markings of the Strecker's chorus frog starts to appear.
There are a number of closely related species of chorus frogs that are similar in appearance to Strecker's chorus frogs. These include upland chorus frogs (Pseudacris feriarum) and western chorus frogs (Pseudacris triseriata). Compared to western chorus frogs, Strecker's chrous frogs have significantly thicker and larger forelimbs and fingers that lack terminal adhesive disks. This is unusual, as that most species of frogs have thin fingers with terminal adhesive disks. Other unique distinguishing features include a compact body form, dark marks placed high on the cheeks, and a V pattern between the eyes. Strecker's chrous frogs also may be confused with northern cricket frogs (Acris crepitans), a closely related species, but the body of Strecker's chorus frogs is stockier.
Average mass: 3 to 4 g.
Range length: 1.9 to 3.8 cm.
Average length: 2.5 cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger; sexes colored or patterned differently
The most common form of communication in Strecker’s chorus frogs are the vocal chirps often heard in and around its midwestern ponds and creeks. The sound of these singing frogs is described as the ring of sleigh bells. Compared to Pseudacris ornata, Strecker’s chorus frogs have calls at a lower frequency. Strecker’s chorus frogs have a dominant frequency of calls at 2280 cps, while P. ornata has dominant frequency of 2640 cps. To the human ear, the singing of an entire population sounds like chaos, however, males wait until just after another to make their own note. These frogs can distinguish among the calls of individual males.
These songs are emitted only by males and are usually used to attract females. The call is also made by one male to inform another competing male of his presence and to establish his territory. While these calls are produced mostly at night during the height of mating season, they sometimes can be heard during the day. Mating calls typically only happen at night. Each call period consists of a refractory phase, excitatory phase, and a call activation phase. The refractory phase is between the beginning of the period and up to 80 milliseconds before the next call. The excitatory phase is between the end of refractory phase and the beginning of the call activation phase, and it is here where the lengthening of the call occurs. The call activation phase can last 5 to 30 milliseconds of the entire call period. Most call periods can last up to 50 milliseconds. In addition to vocalizations, mating uses pheromones to initiate the act and tactile information to excrete the sperm and eggs.
Communication Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: choruses ; pheromones
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
In comparison to other chorus frogs (Pseudacris), Strecker's chorus frogs are one of the most terrestrial species. They live in a variety of habit types, including moist woods, sand prairies, streams, swamps, and ponds. Strecker's chorus frogs also are know to inhabit temperate grasslands, wetlands, canals, and drainage channels. Most of the time, Strecker's chorus frogs remain burrowed underground. This is possible because they can tolerate a high loss of body water. When not feeding or breeding, chorus frogs burrow approximately six inches (15 cm) into the soil using their front limbs. Larvae and eggs require aquatic habitats and are typically found in small bodies of water such as small ponds, ditches, and flooded fields.
Recently populations of Strecker's chorus frog have been decreasing due to the destruction of breeding habitats. Primary causes include the expansion of agriculture and housing developments in southeast Missouri.
Range elevation: 600 to 2000 m.
Average elevation: 1300-1700 m.
Range depth: .01 to .80 m.
Average depth: .08 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial ; freshwater
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools
Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural
Pseduacris streckeri, also known as Strecker's chorus frog, is found in portions of the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, which acts as a geographic barrier. The range extends from southern Kansas to southern Texas. Isolated populations exist in central and southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, and small parts of western Arkansas. Although questionable, it also may occur in northern Mexico. Data from Mexico, however, remains unreliable. There are no introduced populations.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
As tadpoles, Strecker's chorus frogs generally act as herbivores. Tadpoles scavenge for detritus and algae. However, tadpoles are known to be cannibalistic when resources are scarce. As adults, the diet of these frogs change dramatically. Adults are carnivorous, feeding primarily at night, and eating a wide variety of arthropods, such as mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and other invertebrates, such as crayfish (Orconectes). Younger, smaller frogs have a diet comprised of mainly smaller insects, including larval forms of midge flies (Chironomidae) and water mites (Hydrachnidiae). Prey capture techniques are largely opportunistic and, as these frogs are not quick, prey is often slow (such as larvae). Strecker's chorus frogs are also adapted to foraging underground. They have large front legs, allowing them to burrow front first and capture any food found in the process of burrowing.
Animal Foods: amphibians; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: algae
Other Foods: detritus
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods); herbivore (Algivore)
Since most of their time is spent underground, the ecosystem impact of Strecker’s chorus frogs is not well known.
Ecosystem Impact: soil aeration
Since Strecker’s chorus frogs remain underground for most of the year, little is known about this species. However, they have been the focus of numerous research studies. Like all members of the family Hylidae, P. streckeri feeds on small insects, such as mosquitoes, which can be beneficial in preventing the spread of mosquito-born illnesses to humans.
Pseudacris streckeri has no adverse effects on humans.
After eggs are laid, embryos develop and larva hatch within five days. Larvae then follow the Gosner developmental stages which are similar for all frog species. Around 60 days of age, tadpoles metamorphosize into adult forms. Early adult color patterns will continue to develop. After metamorphosis, growth rates can exceed one millimeter a day, until full size is reached in 60 to 75 days.
Development - Life Cycle: neotenic/paedomorphic; metamorphosis
Populations of Strecker's chorus frogs are not believed to be under any major threats currently. This species of chorus frog is ranked as "Least Concern". However, the US Fish & Wildlife Service profile for this species does list them as "a species of concern". The conservation status of P. illinoensis (Illinois chorus frog) is of concern due to agricultural development in their habitat. Development has destroyed over half of P. illinoensis habitat; these habitats have been converted largely to agricultural fields and urban developments.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Mating occurs in winter months, usually starting in November and continuing until March. Variations in breeding season are dependent on the amount of rainfall that occurs in those months. Temperature also affects when Strecker's chorus frogs come above ground to breed. Most of the year, Strecker's chorus frogs remain underground. They generally emerge only to mate. Mating calls, high-pitched peep calls, are the primary way that these frogs call females for reproduction. If temperatures fall below 4.5 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit), mating calls tend to cease.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Like most frogs, P. streckeri is oviparous, meaning that females deposit eggs into the external environment. Males then fertilizes the eggs in the environment. Strecker's chorus frogs lay eggs in small temporary bodies of water, small rivers, or small creeks. These habitats typically have few to no predators and provide sufficient water for plant growth. Eggs are laid in large numbers, up to 600 at one time. Once in the water, they resemble small, jelly-like masses that float on the surface. After about 2 to 5 days, eggs hatch. The tadpoles are small but robust. Tadpoles have black or brown with little mottling on dorsal and are white on their ventral. Tadpoles are around 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long when they start their transformation into frogs, and most mature in 60 to 75 days.
Breeding interval: Strecker's chorus frogs breed every winter when the weather starts to warm up to around 40 degress Fahrenheit.
Breeding season: Strecker's chorus frogs breed from November to March.
Range number of offspring: 250 to 600.
Range time to hatching: 2 to 5 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 60 to 75 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 60 to 75 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Neither males nor females protect the eggs once they are laid. Rather, females lay a large number of eggs at one time to ensure that at least some offspring will survive to adulthood. Since there is no parental investment, tadpoles must ensure their own survival. Tadpoles are known to be cannibalistic, beginning feeding within 28 days of development. This provides them with the necessary amount to protein to survive.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)
Strecker's chorus frog (Pseudacris streckeri) is a species of nocturnal tree frog native to the south central United States, from southern Kansas, through Oklahoma and east to Arkansas, the northwestern tip of Louisiana and south throughout much of Texas.
Strecker's chorus frogs can attain a size of approximately 1.5 inches (about 3.5 cm). They vary in color from light grey, brown to green with darker longitudinal blotches, and a distinctive dark spot that runs underneath the eye. Their underside is typically white in color, with yellow or orange around the groin region.
Whether this name refers to a species with two subspecies: Strecker's chorus frog, Pseudacris streckeri streckeri Wright & Wright, 1933 and Illinois chorus frog, Pseudacris streckeri illinoensis (Smith, 1951), or whether the Illinois chorus frog is split off as its own species is controversial. Collins [2] recognized it as its own species which was followed by ASW6.0[3] and Amphibiaweb[4] on the basis of its diagnosability from Pseudacris streckeri and its allopatry. The IUCNredlist 2013.2 has not incorporated this taxonomic split.[1]
Strecker's chorus frog (Pseudacris streckeri) is a species of nocturnal tree frog native to the south central United States, from southern Kansas, through Oklahoma and east to Arkansas, the northwestern tip of Louisiana and south throughout much of Texas.
