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amphibian · frog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans — Hylidae
0.6–1.4 inches
IUCN
Least Concern
Federal (US)
None
Virginia
None
VWAP Tier
Not Listed
Habitat
Found in Virginia
How to identify
- Very small, 0.6–1.4 inches
- Warty skin despite being a treefrog
- Highly variable coloration — green, brown, gray, or reddish with dark markings
- Dark triangular marking between the eyes
- Ragged Y-shaped stripe on back in many individuals
About this species
Despite being a member of the treefrog family, cricket frogs spend most of their time on the ground near water and have reduced toe pads. They are tiny, warty-skinned frogs that superficially resemble small toads. They are one of Virginia's most abundant frogs and their clicking 'gick gick gick' call is a common summer sound near ponds and streams.
Often confused with
Did you know
"Cricket frogs can leap over three feet in a single bound — more than 40 times their own body length — making them one of the most impressive leapers relative to body size in the animal kingdom."
Sightings & citizen science
Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.
View Eastern Cricket Frog observations on iNaturalist ↗Found one injured?
If you've found an injured or displaced Eastern Cricket Frog in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.