Scientific Name – Lithobates catesbeianus

Classification – Ranidae

Baby Name – Tadpole, polliwog, froglet

Collective Noun – Army, colony

Average Length – 3.6 to 8 in (snout to vent length)

Average Weight – 5 to 800 g

Life Expectancy – 7 to 9 years (in wild); 16 years (in captivity)

Breeding Period – May to July in the north; February to October in the south

Incubation Period – 4 days

Metamorphosis Period – 3 months

Special Features – The forelegs are short and sturdy while hind legs are long; back toes are webbed barring the fourth toe

Family Unit – Solitary animal except during the breeding season

Geographical Distribution – Canada and the United States

World Population – Increasing

Conservation Status – Least Concern

Natural Habitat – Near lake, pond, river, or bog

Diet – Rodents, small reptiles, crayfish, birds, amphibians, bats, insects

Predators – Birds, turtles, snakes, raccoons