When we first arrived at Hopkins Prairie, the morning cloud cover had disobeyed the weather forecast and stayed put, leaving the day a little chilly and dull. Not great herp weather, but we were greeted by the chirping chorus of dozens of these tiny frogs. Walking near the edge of ponds and marshes, there were froglets galore leaping for their liquid shelter.

I saw just a few of these along the edge of a roadside pond, eager to leap for safety in the water.

It's difficult to tell Southern Cricket Frogs apart from their Northern cousins, and both species live in this area. I think this little tyke is A. gryllus based on the small amount of webbing visible on its hind feet, and its relatively pointy snout. Another diagnostic character is a stripe on the thigh, but you can only see that if you have the frog in hand and make it stretch out its back leg, which I did not do.

They are nervous little guys, always eager to jump into the nearest body of water (which is typically close nearby).