| Spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum, have been a focal species for amphibian monitoring at Patuxent for the past 5 years. At one of our study ponds, we used the unique spot patterns of each salamander as a way to 'mark' individuals, and thus to calculate population estimates. Photo by Evan H.C. Grant, USGS. |
Wood frogs, Rana sylvatica, are the earliest breeding frogs at Patuxent. These frogs are one of the few amphibians that actually produce their own antifreeze within their blood, allowing them to survive cold temperatures while hibernating just under the leaf litter. Like spotted salamanders, these frogs have been a focal species for amphibian monitoring at Patuxent for the past 5 years. Photo by Evan H.C. Grant, USGS. |
The call of American toads, Bufo americanus, is a long, steady trill. These toads call from approximately mid-March to mid-April. Photo by Isaac Chellman, USGS. |
| You have probably heard the calls of spring peepers, though you may not have known it. Their call is a high-pitched "peep", and when several of them are calling, the chorus has been described as sounding like sleigh bells. You can hear them peeping from February through early June. Photo by Lindsay D. Funk, USGS. |
Spadefoot toads, Scaphiopus holbrookii, are rarely encountered due to their very secretive nature. These toads emerge to breed only during periods of heavy rain, and their tadpoles transform very quickly. We were lucky enough to see this individual crossing the road during a rainy, night time survey. Photo by Priya Nanjappa, USGS. |
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