The mink frog (Lithobates septentrionalis) is a small species of frog native to the United States and Canada. They are so named for their scent, which reportedly smells like a mink. The scent is more akin to that of rotting onions to those unfamiliar with mink. It is also sometimes referred to as the north frog.
The mink frog is a small frog, growing up to 4.8 to 7.6 cm (1.9 to 3.0 in). The dorsum is generally green in color, with darker green and brown blotching and the belly is a cream, yellow, or white. They are sexually dimorphic in that males typically have a bright yellow colored throat, while females have a white colored throat, and the tympanum of the male is larger than the eye, while the female's is smaller than or the same size as the eye. The frogs have a pale-colored underside and bright green lips.
Ecology and behavioredit
The mink frog is predominantly aquatic, living among the vegetation (especially among lily pads) in ponds, swamps, and streams around wooded areas. They feed on a wide variety of things, including spiders, snails, beetles, and other invertebrates. As tadpoles they consume primarily algae and decaying plant matter.
Reproductionedit
Mating generally takes place in late spring and early summer. These frogs prefer cold, well-oxygenated wetland breeding sites where during the late night hours, but occasionally during the day, males call to attract females while floating on the water's surface or partially resting on floating vegetation.[2] Between 500 and 4000 eggs can be laid by the female at any one time, generally in deep water. Egg masses are usually found close to floating vegetation and hatch within days of being deposited.[2] Tadpoles remain in the larval stage for approximately one year before metamorphosing into froglets. Maturity is reached in a year for males, and two years for females.
In recent years, it seems that the general populations of mink frogs are in decline.[3] In a 1999 study conducted by David Gardiner and David Hoppe it was noted that there was an increase in mink frog deformities. "The spectrum of deformities includes missing limbs, truncated limbs, extra limbs (including extra pelvic girdles), and skin webbings. We also describe a newly recognized malformation of the proximal-distal limb axis, a bony triangle. In this abnormality, the proximal and distal ends of the bone are adjacent to one another forming the base of a triangle. The shaft of the bone is bent double and protrudes laterally, the midpoint of the bone forming the apex of the triangle."[4] The study comes to the conclusion that these deformities are a result of exposure to exogenous retinoids, but more study is needed to make a sure determination.
Referencesedit
^IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Lithobates septentrionalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T58713A193381483. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T58713A193381483.en. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^ abcPatrick, David A.; Harper, Elizabeth B.; Popescu, Viorel D.; Bozic, Zachary; Byrne, Alexander; Daub, Jenna; Lecheminant, Alexander; Pierce, Joshua (2012). "The ecology of the Mink Frog, Lithobates septentrionalis, in the Adirondack Park, New York, with notes on conducting experimental research". Herpetological Review. 43 (3): 396–398.
^Harding, J. (1997) Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. MI: The University of Michigan Press ISBN0472066285.
^Gardiner, D. M. & Hoppe, D. M. (1999). "Environmentally induced limb malformations in mink frogs (L. septentrionalis)". The Journal of Experimental Zoology. 284 (2): 207–16. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-010X(19990701)284:2<207::AID-JEZ10>3.0.CO;2-B. PMID 10404649.
Further readingedit
Hillis, D.M. & Wilcox, T.P. (2005). Phylogeny of the New World true frogs (Rana). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.34(2): 299–314. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.007 .
Hillis, D. M. (2007). Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.42: 331–338.
External linksedit
Media related to Lithobates septentrionalis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Mink frog at Wikispecies
Mink Frog, Toronto Zoo Guide
IUCN RangeMap: Lithobates septentrionalis
Animal Diversity Web: Lithobates septentrionalis
Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Mink Frog
April 14, 2024
mink, frog, mink, frog, lithobates, septentrionalis, small, species, frog, native, united, states, canada, they, named, their, scent, which, reportedly, smells, like, mink, scent, more, akin, that, rotting, onions, those, unfamiliar, with, mink, also, sometime. The mink frog Lithobates septentrionalis is a small species of frog native to the United States and Canada They are so named for their scent which reportedly smells like a mink The scent is more akin to that of rotting onions to those unfamiliar with mink It is also sometimes referred to as the north frog Mink frogConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder AnuraFamily RanidaeGenus LithobatesSpecies L septentrionalisBinomial nameLithobates septentrionalis Baird 1854 Range of L septentrionalisSynonymsRana septentrionalis Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology and behavior 2 1 Reproduction 3 Geographic range 4 Conservation status 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription editThe mink frog is a small frog growing up to 4 8 to 7 6 cm 1 9 to 3 0 in The dorsum is generally green in color with darker green and brown blotching and the belly is a cream yellow or white They are sexually dimorphic in that males typically have a bright yellow colored throat while females have a white colored throat and the tympanum of the male is larger than the eye while the female s is smaller than or the same size as the eye The frogs have a pale colored underside and bright green lips Ecology and behavior editThe mink frog is predominantly aquatic living among the vegetation especially among lily pads in ponds swamps and streams around wooded areas They feed on a wide variety of things including spiders snails beetles and other invertebrates As tadpoles they consume primarily algae and decaying plant matter Reproduction edit Mating generally takes place in late spring and early summer These frogs prefer cold well oxygenated wetland breeding sites where during the late night hours but occasionally during the day males call to attract females while floating on the water s surface or partially resting on floating vegetation 2 Between 500 and 4000 eggs can be laid by the female at any one time generally in deep water Egg masses are usually found close to floating vegetation and hatch within days of being deposited 2 Tadpoles remain in the larval stage for approximately one year before metamorphosing into froglets Maturity is reached in a year for males and two years for females Geographic range editMink frogs are found in the United States in the states of Minnesota New Hampshire Wisconsin Michigan Maine Vermont and New York They are also found in Canada in the provinces of Nova Scotia New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Quebec Ontario and Manitoba This largely aquatic frog s southern range limit is at the highest latitude of any North American frog and there is evidence that more southern populations of this frog became extinct within the past century 2 Conservation status editIn recent years it seems that the general populations of mink frogs are in decline 3 In a 1999 study conducted by David Gardiner and David Hoppe it was noted that there was an increase in mink frog deformities The spectrum of deformities includes missing limbs truncated limbs extra limbs including extra pelvic girdles and skin webbings We also describe a newly recognized malformation of the proximal distal limb axis a bony triangle In this abnormality the proximal and distal ends of the bone are adjacent to one another forming the base of a triangle The shaft of the bone is bent double and protrudes laterally the midpoint of the bone forming the apex of the triangle 4 The study comes to the conclusion that these deformities are a result of exposure to exogenous retinoids but more study is needed to make a sure determination References edit IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2022 Lithobates septentrionalis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T58713A193381483 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2022 1 RLTS T58713A193381483 en Retrieved 30 April 2023 a b c Patrick David A Harper Elizabeth B Popescu Viorel D Bozic Zachary Byrne Alexander Daub Jenna Lecheminant Alexander Pierce Joshua 2012 The ecology of the Mink Frog Lithobates septentrionalis in the Adirondack Park New York with notes on conducting experimental research Herpetological Review 43 3 396 398 Harding J 1997 Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region MI The University of Michigan Press ISBN 0472066285 Gardiner D M amp Hoppe D M 1999 Environmentally induced limb malformations in mink frogs L septentrionalis The Journal of Experimental Zoology 284 2 207 16 doi 10 1002 SICI 1097 010X 19990701 284 2 lt 207 AID JEZ10 gt 3 0 CO 2 B PMID 10404649 Further reading editHillis D M amp Wilcox T P 2005 Phylogeny of the New World true frogs Rana Mol Phylogenet Evol 34 2 299 314 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2004 10 007 PDF fulltext Hillis D M 2007 Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life Mol Phylogenet Evol 42 331 338 External links edit nbsp Media related to Lithobates septentrionalis at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Mink frog at Wikispecies Mink Frog Toronto Zoo Guide IUCN RangeMap Lithobates septentrionalis Animal Diversity Web Lithobates septentrionalis Michigan Department of Natural Resources Mink Frog USGS Mink Frog Nova Scotia Frogs Mink Frog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mink frog amp oldid 1152420882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
