Dusky Gopher Frog

Lithobates sevosus (State Status: S1; critically imperiled)

Description

Dusky Gopher Frogs are medium-sized frogs from the family Ranidae. Their skin is dark gray and black, rough, and covered with bumps. These frogs only occur in a handful of ponds in the southern part of the state, and are subject to intense monitoring, protection, and captive breeding programs.

Male Dusky Gopher Frog moving into a breeding pond, south Mississippi

Identifying Traits

  • Dark, rough skin
  • Low, consistent purr or growling call
Range

Habitat

Seasonal wetlands in sandy pine forests

Behavior

“Low pitched nasally call” can last for about 1-2 seconds. Similar to snoring sound (Powell et al., 2016)

Predominant “snore” is the Dusky Gopher Frog, background chorus of Barking Treefrogs
Chorus of Barking Treefrogs with Dusky Gopher Frog calls mixed in

Diet

Various invertebrates

Natural metamorph from a breeding pond, south Mississippi
Gravid female moving into a pond to lay eggs, south Mississippi
Young male Dusky Gopher Frog, south Mississippi
Dark adult female, gravid and moving into a breeding pond, south Mississippi