Green Frog: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Newts and Salamanders · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. A male green frog's call sounds like someone plucking a slack banjo string, usually one note at a time.
2. Research shows that wild green frogs can switch sexes, in backyard ponds and in relatively pristine forest ponds alike.
3. A green frog clutch holds 1,000 to 7,000 eggs, laid as a film on the surface and attached to plants in shallow water.
4. In the breeding season, male green frogs defend their territories with chases, jump attacks and even wrestling.
5. A green frog will try to eat any mouth-sized animal it can catch, even small snakes and other frogs.

The quiz

1. What does a male green frog's call sound like?

• A barking dog
• A ringing bell
• A plucked loose banjo string (correct)
• A creaking door

Its call sounds like a slack banjo string being plucked.

2. What can wild green frogs do?

• Switch sexes (correct)
• Change colour like a chameleon
• Glow in the dark
• Fly short distances

Wild green frogs can switch sexes.

3. How many eggs are in a green frog clutch?

• 10 to 70
• 1,000 to 7,000 (correct)
• 100 to 700
• 20,000 to 70,000

A clutch holds 1,000 to 7,000 eggs.

4. How do male green frogs defend their territories?

• By spraying poison
• By building mud walls
• By changing colour
• With chases, jump attacks and wrestling (correct)

Males chase, jump at and wrestle intruders.

5. What will a green frog try to eat?

• Only plants
• Only flies
• Any mouth-sized animal it can catch (correct)
• Only fish

It will try to eat any mouth-sized animal it can catch.

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