Anyone really good at ID-ing tadpoles, particularly those in MI in the U.S.A.?

[Bill B]

I am somewhat trying to monitor frogs in a park along the Grand River in Michigan after after the highest flood crest recorded on record, which was exactly two weeks ago today (the crest: 22 April 2013; today: 6 May 2013). Much of the part just became one giant moving pond/lake/river. Since first exploring the flood receded, just yesterday and today, I have seen and or heard metamorphs and/or adults of Blanchard's Cricket Frogs, Gray Treefrogs, Northern Leopard Frogs, and I think one Northern Spring Peeper.

Found, to my surprise after such a flood, a lot of tadpoles. I am not sure what I am seeing.

Here are two photos of the same two tads. I don't know what I am seeing.

 

[Kaysie]

American toads, Bufo americanus.

 

[FrogEyes]

I won't dispute the ID, but I would say that wood and chorus frogs will be the first to breed, closely followed by leopard frogs. Second, there are virtually no identifiable features in those photos. Get yourself a Peterson field guide for Eastern and Central North America, and you will see the kind of details needed for the difficult task of identifying tadpoles.

 

[Bill B]

I won't dispute the ID, but I would say that wood and chorus frogs will be the first to breed, closely followed by leopard frogs. Second, there are virtually no identifiable features in those photos. Get yourself a Peterson field guide for Eastern and Central North America, and you will see the kind of details needed for the difficult task of identifying tadpoles.

What is the actual name of the book you mention? I see Peterson First Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians when I do a Google search.

I have been looking around in that park yesterday and today, and found numerous tadpoles, at least a couple of few different species. Some have gold specks. What species has gold specks? I just read the account of Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) in J. Alan Holman's posthumous book, and I know at least species has tadpoles with gold flecks.

This particular pond I think has no Wood Frogs. Not enough cover from woody vegetation. I would be somewhat surprised if the tadpoles were of American Toads (Anaxyrus [Bufo] americanus), because I think they only started calling about a week ago in this part of Michigan.

 

[Kaysie]

This is the best general guide for amphibs in the east.

I've found American toad tadpoles that were so gold they were blond. Of course, that was literally one in a thousand, so take it with a grain of salt. Most are black, typical tadpoles. They're one of the first breeders in the spring too, behind woodies.

Cricket frog taddies have a black tail tip and a lighter body. I've found in Michigan they typically don't lay until later in the season, late May-June. Tree frogs have a reddish hue to their tail, and the tail fin is large. Leopard frogs are quite mottled.

I agree with FrogEyes though, without close up photos, and especially of the mouthparts, ID is a guess at best.

 

[Bill B]

A better photo.... the tadpole on the right in THIS photo I is one of the two in my hand in the previous photos.

 

[FrogEyes]

Not Acris, probably not Anaxyrus, probably not Lithobates unless it's L.sylvaticus. I'm inclined to think it's an Acris of some sort; but again, there are really no diagnostic features visible, and at that size they could be very young tadpoles of almost anything.

 

[Bill B]

Not Acris, probably not Anaxyrus, probably not Lithobates unless it's L.sylvaticus. I'm inclined to think it's an Acris of some sort; but again, there are really no diagnostic features visible, and at that size they could be very young tadpoles of almost anything.

A little befuzzled. Not Acris, but you're inclined to think it's an Acris of some sort? I'm guessing you mis-typed. I'm pretty sure it's not Lithobates sylvaticus because it was not in wooded/shaded area at all.

 

[Willlis]

I'll see if I can't get a look over there this week bill. My guess is toad because of timing. That is about right for there breeding at least as far as the other local population goes.

 

[FrogEyes]

A little befuzzled. Not Acris, but you're inclined to think it's an Acris of some sort? I'm guessing you mis-typed. I'm pretty sure it's not Lithobates sylvaticus because it was not in wooded/shaded area at all.

Sorry, I meant that second "Acris" to read "Pseudacris".

Wood frogs are not restricted to wooded areas, and most especially not to woodland ponds. There doesn't even need to be much in the way of trees nearby. Currently the closest site I know for wood frogs IS inside forest, in company of leopard and boreal chorus frogs [and bullfrogs], but many of the sites I have known had no trees around them, and often only small wooded areas scores or hundreds of feet away.

 

[Bill B]

I thought you meant "Pseudacris". Makes sense.

 

[Aaron911]

I live In WI and I have these same tad poles. I'm pretty sure they are Wood frog tad poles. Not 100% tho but pretty sure