The unassuming Green Frog is a remarkable little creature whose mellow call is well known to many who live within their ranges.

Green Frogs prefer the slow moving or relatively still waters of permanent waterways such as large rivers or lakes. They are usually found in warmer waters well stocked with plants. The Green Frog usually emerges in April. Their calls sound like the plucking or twanging of a banjo, and are most often heard in the first half hour after sunset. Generally males will defend a territory during the breeding season. They establish their territory vocally, and intruders will be chased off or confronted with splashing or wrestling. Green Frogs are mostly nocturnal. Most of the Green Frog's diet is comprised of invertebrates like earthworms or other insects. Some will even eat fish.

Larger than many other species of frog, at maturity the Green Frog usually measures between 3 and 4 inches. The frog is green, of course, ranging in shades of darker green to greenish brown. Its upper lip is a brighter green than the rest of its body, and its hind legs are decorated with darker bands. Their darkly patterned or spotted bellies are usually white. Ridges adorn either side of a Green Frog's back, and during the breeding season males' throats become a particularly noticeable yellow color. The external eardrum of the Green Frog may be larger than its eye.

A certain mutation of the Green Frog produces a blue color in some individuals. Most, however, are green. These frogs are native to northern North America, especially Ontario, Canada south through parts of the United States. In some more marshy or wet areas, Green Frogs can move overland during wet seasons in search of new homes.

Green Frogs will let you know when they are alarmed by making a bull frog like noise and attempting to retreat into water. In captivity they will usually accept any insect food.

Care of tadpoles is quite different from care of adult frogs. Green Frog tadpoles should be kept in a full water aquarium or a half water, half land tank. Make sure to treat water, as chlorine is harmful for tadpoles. Water should be filtered in either setup, though bio-filters are preferred for full aquariums, and smaller filters are better for the half and half tanks. Fish may be aggressive to tadpoles, so they usually do best with non-aggressive, small fish such as Neon Tetras. Tadpoles can be housed singly, but they tend to remain inactive. They do best in groups of two to four individuals. When kept in small groups they tend to swim together, and are usually a lot more active. Be careful of overcrowding.

Green Frogs generally breed in June and July. The males call to attract females, sitting in such a manner as to make their yellow throats evident. The Green Frog remains in a tadpole phase in winter and develops into a frog before the warmer breeding season. Female Green Frogs lay about 3,500 eggs. These are laid in a mat and will hatch into tadpoles that are green with black spotting over their bodies. Some have yellow bellies.

The tadpole stage will last for approximately 2 years. When they are first born they cannot swim, and are usually seen clinging to plants. A few days after birth, they will begin to swim by wiggling their tales. Later they will begin to grow hind legs. Once the legs are fully developed they will use them to swim and push their way through the water. Around this time development will continue and they will begin changing into frogs. Skin will grow over the gills, and they will start developing lungs. The front legs will also begin to grow at this time. The body absorbs the tales, and they usually stop eating at this time.