Pseudacris (commonly known as the chorus frogs) is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae found in North America ranging from the Pacific coastline to the Atlantic.
The name of the genus comes from the Greek pseudes (false) and akris (locust), probably a reference to the repeated rasping trill of most chorus frogs, which is similar to that of the insect. It could also mean ‘false Acris’, distinguishing it from another frog genus.[1]
The species in this genus are disputed. Molecular genetic research shows little consistency due to hybridization between species, making taxonomic organization difficult.[2]
The number of species in this genus is controversial, but Frost et al. list 19 species (all shown here), and AmphibiaWeb lists 17 species (P. hypochondriaca and P. sierra are not recognized):[3] [4]
| Binomial name and author | Common name |
|---|---|
| Pseudacris brachyphona | Appalachian mountain chorus frog |
| Pseudacris brimleyi | Brimley's chorus frog |
| Pseudacris cadaverina | California tree frog |
| Pseudacris clarkii | spotted chorus frog |
| Pseudacris collinsorum | Collinses’ mountain chorus frog |
| Pseudacris crucifer | spring peeper |
| Pseudacris feriarum | upland chorus frog |
| Pseudacris fouquettei | Cajun chorus frog |
| Pseudacris hypochondriaca | Baja chorus frog |
| Pseudacris illinoensis | Illinois chorus frog |
| Pseudacris kalmi | New Jersey chorus frog |
| Pseudacris maculata | boreal chorus frog |
| Pseudacris nigrita | southern chorus frog |
| Pseudacris ocularis | little grass frog |
| Pseudacris ornata | ornate chorus frog |
| Pseudacris regilla | Pacific tree frog |
| Pseudacris sierra | Sierran chorus frog |
| Pseudacris streckeri | Strecker's chorus frog |
| Pseudacris triseriata | western chorus frog or striped chorus frog |
Chorus frogs live anywhere in North America from southern Alaska to southern Baja California, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic.