*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 Southern Crawfish Frog, Lithobates areolatus areolatus, occurs within Louisiana.
Adult Description: A medium-sized robust frog (maximum 3.6”) of brown to gray coloration, with many light-bordered dark circular spots on backs and sides. Smaller markings exist between spots. A raised area of skin runs on each side of back, though not always obvious. Skin with numerous smoothed warts on backs and sides. Hindlimbs with dark crossbars and a yellowish wash underneath. Belly is white.
Similar Species:
Species Range: Western Indiana south through western Kentucky and western Tennessee, and into northern Mississippi, west to much of western Louisiana into east Texas, north through eastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas, east into parts of Missouri, extreme south-central Iowa, and much of southern Illinois. Absent from much of Ozark Plateau and Mississippi River floodplain.
Louisiana Range: Known only from 15 widely separated sites west of Mississippi River.
Adult Habitat: Prairie, pastures, open woodlands, and river floodplains.
Natural History: Crawfish Frogs are most often active between dusk and dawn. They live in underground burrows, particularly those abandoned by crawfish, and stay very close to their burrow in the nonbreeding season, where they wait at the entrance for passing prey. They are indiscriminate feeders, taking any moving arthropod prey they can fit into their mouths. Snakes and small mammals are noted predators. Breeding commences after heavy rains in mild temperatures (>50° F) in mid-late winter. They breed in a variety of shallow rain-filled water bodies that often have grassy vegetation, at least at the margins. Females lay 2,000–7,000 eggs in a single mass at or near the water surface and often attached to vegetation. Eggs hatch in 3–10 days and tadpoles metamorphose in about 2 months. Maturity takes 2–3 years. Wild longevity is 5 years.
Call: A low-pitched, guttural ‘wwwwahhhhhh’ likened to a snore that lasts about 1 second.
Best Time and Place to Observe: Unfortunately, in Louisiana, this species was last seen in 2010 and last heard in 2018, both at the same site near Shreveport. Listen for their distinct vocalizations in rain-filled ponds or depressions in open areas that have had limited or no soil disturbance history from mid-February through early March.
Global Conservation Status: Crawfish Frogs have a relatively wide distribution in the south-central and midwestern United States, but are probably in significant decline due to significant habitat loss throughout its range, and thus, are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, and are close to qualifying as Vulnerable. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G4 (Apparently Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None.
Louisiana Conservation Status: Crawfish Frogs have a ranking of S1 (critically imperiled because of extreme rarity – 5 or fewer known extant populations) in Louisiana.
*** If you live in the range of this species in Louisiana and believe you may have observed or heard this species please let me know (take a picture or audio recording if possible), as there may be more unknown populations in the state.***
Author's Remarks: I have never found this species anywhere in its range.
