Identification Troubles.

[crazy]

I'm going to guess that they are Wood Frogs, Rana sylvatica. Gold flecks, transparency, tail pattern, and time of year are making this my guess. They eyes also look like they're dorsal, but I could be wrong. This is a wood frog tadpole:


Wood Frog Tadpole by Jelly Brain, on Flickr

It hit land about 4 weeks after this stage, so no matter what I'd expect you'll have an easy ID in a few weeks.

Some handy ID links:

Your state frogs/toads: Discover Maryland's Herps - Wildlife and Heritage Service - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
A complex tadpole key: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center "Tadpoles of the United States and Canada: A Tutorial and Key"
The tutorial for the above key (explains the anatomy bits): North American Tadpoles
A small chart of common tads: Tadpole Identification Table
The SEARMIT tadpole guide: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/armi/Guid...dpoleGuide.pdf


150 of anything will be tough to raise- I'd look to send most of them out as soon as their tails are absorbed. Make absolutely sure that once the front legs start to 'pop', ideally a little before just in case you miss it, that they have an easy way out of the water. They like to drown themselves when transitioning.

Anyway, good luck with your charges!

I've done some reading from what you have sent me, and I am not so sure. I mean, I acknowledge your better opinion, because you are almost certainly more experienced than I am in such things, but I am fairly certain my tadpole's eyes are lateral....

They are wide set when viewed directly from above, and they protrude in little bumps in almost every direction. They appear three dimensional and not set into the head from both the sides and can be seen peeking over the top of the head. I tried to get a good picture to see if you think I am right, but seeing as their bodies are less than a cm long, a good picture of a pin prick eye is hard to do.

From the tadpole chart you sent me, this would signify some variety of tree frog, would it not?

Not sure if they are wood frog or not, but that is only going based on the pictures. Did it rain recently before you found the tadpoles? Are the tadpoles still black and have their back legs in already or have the morphed yet? Finally what part of Maryland are you in? I ask these questions because if it rained recently before you found them, the tadpoles are still blackish or have morphed already, and you live on the eastern part of Maryland. They could possibly be an eastern spadefoot toad, which if I am correct they are a rare toad up there as they have a limited range in that state and more wide spread in the eastern side of Maryland. They are known to be explosive breeders and usually only breed during a heavy rain and for some reason only in puddles, which can dry up quickly. I just had some of these toads morph into little toadlets over the past few days. Had them only about two weeks. The eastern spadefoot toad tadpoles underside is completely transparent until they grown in their legs. They are odd little toads, however they are neat.

[Sarah42]

I don't live in Eastern MD, I live in the Appalachian mountains.... and it had been raining off and on for several days before I found the eggs, but not particularly heavily that I can remember. In any event, the tadpoles are not black and have no limbs at this stage. Also, the eggs were suspended in some kind of goop. I was given to understand most toads lay their eggs in string like formations.

[crazy]

I don't live in Eastern MD, I live in the Appalachian mountains.... and it had been raining off and on for several days before I found the eggs, but not particularly heavily that I can remember. In any event, the tadpoles are not black and have no limbs at this stage. Also, the eggs were suspended in some kind of goop. I was given to understand most toads lay their eggs in string like formations.

Most toads do lay their eggs in a string, but I have found that eastern spadefoot toads will also lay their eggs in a bundle like a frog. Since they are not black and have no limbs even after a couple of weeks then they probably are not eastern spadefoot toads. My tadpoles from one of these toads started growing their back legs by the beginning of the second week of having them and morphed by the 3rd week. They literally hatched the day after they were laid. Like you said they are most likely a type of tree frog or maybe a wood frog then.

[Sarah42]

Hi all. So I've waited (somewhat impatiently) for my tadpoles to begin to turn. And today I discovered my first fully formed froglet of the year. He's outrageously adorable. And also tiny. And I mean, minuscule. Probably half the size of my pinky fingernail, and I have fairly dainty hands. I think this eliminates wood frogs: seeing as most froglets I could find of that type are roughly thumb nail sized. Several of the tadpoles have usable back legs and most are getting back leg nubs, but is it normal for a group of eggs to be so spread out? Some without the beginning of back legs when others are fully frogs?

Anyway, here are some photos of the first one to have four working limbs. As you can see, he's almost lost his whole tail. Please forgive the slight blurriness to these photos: my camera isn't designed for extreme close ups of tiny things.




I'm still kinda thinking spring peeper. They seem the right size, breed in the right time of year, and I think I am beginning to see the trademark mottling on the back and legs of my new frog. Thoughts?