The carpenter frog (Lithobates virgatipes) is a species of true frog found on coastal plain of the Atlantic coast of the United States between central New Jersey and northeastern Florida. Identification Carpenter frogs are distinguished by their all brown color with two yellow stripes on each side of the back. Their tail is gray in color and their underside is normally white or yellow. Unlike other frogs the webbing on their toes does not reach the longest toe. Carpenter frogs are recognized by their call which resembles a carpenter hammering, which gives them their name. They have ectothermic, heterothermic and bilateral symmetry. The frog's throat pouch is spherical shaped when inflated. Full grown frogs are medium-sized 4.1-6.6 centimeters. Habitat The carpenter frog is found in the Atlantic coastal plains in the United States. From the pine barrens of New Jersey to the bottom of Georgia, the carpenter frog makes its home. The frog is also found, but not common, in Florida. They are usually found in water and rarely on land. The carpenter frog adapted to be able to live in acidic waters. The frog has been observed in cypress ponds, interdunal swales, tupelo swamps, acid swamps, canals, and is associated with sphagnum mats and other vegetation in coffee-colored waters of pine savanna bogs or ponds. They most commonly are found in relatively acidic water abundant Sphagnum or other vegetation leading to being sometimes referred to "sphagnum frogs." They depend on aquatic vegetation in shallow waters for protection and breeding. It is said that carpenter frogs are found in waterways that are tea or coffee colored, where they can easily be camouflaged. Reproduction Carpenter frogs are prolonged breeders with a breeding season between 2–3 months. The breeding season typically occurs with onset of warm weather in late April and continues until late July or early August. Males maintain territories with a median radius of 1 meter and produce mating calls on most nights of the breeding season. Intensity of the calls varies according to body size, with smaller males having high pitched calls of lower intensity relative to larger males. Calling activity occurs between sunset and sunrise but peaks near midnight. After mating, females lay globular egg masses of 200-600 eggs attached to underwater vegetation up to 8 inches deep. Life cycle Tadpoles hatch from eggs approximately one week after laying, and remain in this state for approximately 1 year.