Identification Troubles.

[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?