Red Lined Wood Frog

[bobberly1]

While mowing the lawn I caught what I can best describe as a wood frog, but which has two distinct red lines going down its back as opposed to the colorless ones I saw in my field guide. Is this anything special? Does anyone have any tips on keeping them?

 

[John]

What is is depends on where you live.

 

[bobberly1]

Coastal Massachusetts, USA.

Anyone?

 

[taherman]

Wood frogs are often highly variable even within the same population. At one locale you can find highly mottled, monochrome, or striped individuals. In addition to the two red dorsolateral folds it sounds like you're describing, some wood frogs will have a third line extending down the midline of the back from the tip of the snout.

They can be maintained in a fairly simple woodland terrarium with plenty of leaves and a wet area at one end. Wild caught wood frogs are usually very eager feeders, and should be fed a variety of invertebrates including worms, woodlice, and various insects.

 

[bobberly1]

Are you sure that they need a wet area? From What I've read they breed in the early spring and venture far from the water source. I caught this one far from a water source as well.

 

[bobberly1]

It jumped out and ran away! I think it's a gonner.

 

[taherman]

They need a water source of some sort as, like all amphibians, they obtain water through their skin (a "drink" patch in the pelvic region in this and most terrestrial frogs). It does not have to be a deep section, 1cm or or so of water over dead oak leaves in one corner is fine. Most of the tank should be terrestrial area.