spring peeper

spring peeper
a tree frog, Hyla crucifer, having an X-shaped mark on the back and voicing a shrill call commonly heard near ponds and swamps of eastern North America in the early spring.
[1905-10, Amer.]

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Species (Hyla crucifer) of tree frog found in ponds, marshes, and other damp areas in the U.S. During the breeding season it can be found in woodland ponds; at other times it is seldom seen.

It has a high, whistling call and is one of the first frogs to vocalize in spring. It is tiny (only 0.75–1.3 in. or 2–3.5 cm, long) and grayish, tan, or olive-brown, with an X-shaped or irregular brown mark on its back.

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 (species Pseudacris crucifer), small tree frog (family Hylidae) found in woodland areas in the eastern United States and Canada. Outside of the breeding season, when it may be found in ephemeral woodland ponds, it is seldom seen.

      The spring peeper, with its high, whistling call, is one of the first frogs to vocalize and breed in spring. Larvae metamorphose into tiny froglets in two to three months. It is grayish, tan, or olive brown with an X-shaped, often irregular, brown mark on its back, and it grows to a length of about 2 to 3.5 cm (0.75 to 1.3 inches).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spring Peeper — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1 …   Wikipedia

  • spring peeper — ☆ spring peeper n. a small tree frog (Hyla crucifer) of the E U.S., that makes shrill, peeping sounds in early spring …   English World dictionary

  • spring peeper — spring′ peep′er n. ram a tree frog, Hyla crucifer, having anX shaped mark on the back and a shrill call commonly heard near ponds and swamps of E North America in the early spring • Etymology: 1905–10, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • spring peeper — noun a small brown tree toad having a shrill call heard near wetlands of eastern United States and Canada in early spring • Syn: ↑Hyla crucifer • Hypernyms: ↑tree toad, ↑tree frog, ↑tree frog • Member Holonyms: ↑Hyla, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • spring peeper — noun Date: 1906 a small brown tree frog (Pseudacris crucifer syn. Hyla crucifer) of the eastern United States and Canada that has a shrill piping call and breeds in ponds and streams in the spring …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spring — springlike, adj. /spring/, v., sprang or, often, sprung; sprung; springing; n., adj. v.i. 1. to rise, leap, move, or act suddenly and swiftly, as by a sudden dart or thrust forward or outward, or being suddenly released from a coiled or… …   Universalium

  • peeper — peeper1 noun 1》 a person who peeps, especially in a voyeuristic way. 2》 (peepers) informal a person s eyes. peeper2 (also spring peeper) noun a small North American tree frog, the males of which sing in early spring. [Hyla crucifer.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • peeper — I. noun Date: 1607 1. one that peeps; specifically voyeur 2. eye II. noun Date: circa 1611 1. one that makes a peeping sound 2. any of various tree frogs that peep shrilly; especia …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • peeper — peeper1 /pee peuhr/, n. 1. a person or thing that emits or utters a peeping sound. 2. Northeastern U.S. any of several frogs having a peeping call, esp. the spring peeper. [1585 95; PEEP2 + ER1] peeper2 /pee peuhr/, n. 1. a person who peeps in an …   Universalium

  • peeper — I peep•er [[t]ˈpi pər[/t]] n. 1) a person who peeps in a prying manner; voyeur 2) sts peepers, Slang. the eyes • Etymology: 1645–55 II peep•er [[t]ˈpi pər[/t]] n. ram dial. spring peeper • Etymology: 1585–95 …   From formal English to slang

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