*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names:
Subspecies: Only the Rio Grande Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides campi, occurs within Louisiana.
Description:
Similar Species:
Species Range: Native range is extreme southern Texas south into the Mexican states of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, and Veracruz. Introduced and established in many metropolitan areas along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana, probably by way of plants and mulch from nurseries.
Louisiana Range: Known from parishes containing the major metropolitan areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria.
Habitat:
Natural History:
Call:
Best Time and Place to Observe:
Global Conservation Status: Rio Grande Chirping Frogs have a relatively wide native distribution in the south-central United States and Mexico, a presumed large population, and tolerate a broad range of habitats, and thus, are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G4 (Apparently Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None
Louisiana Conservation Status: Exotic Rio Grande Chirping Frogs do not have any special status in Louisiana.
Author's Remarks: I have found this species at multiple locations within Lafayette Parish, including the cities of Lafayette and Youngsville. In one woodlot near the mall in Lafayette Parish, this species has become very abundant - multiple cover objects turned over in a 2012 outing contained up to 5 or 6 individuals. This species has now been detected in the Atchafalaya Basin in 2014 in the Indian Bayou area in St. Martin Parish. I also found an individual in Sherburne WMA on Bayou Manual Road in 2019.
