1.1.1 Arctic Amphibians The most northerly amphibian in North America, the wood frog has amazing freeze tolerance – it can survive even though much of its body fluids are frozen! Because of this adaptation, the wood frog has extended its range to the tree line, bordering on the Arctic. Perhaps climate is not what prevents this amazing animal from living even farther north, but simply the absence of its preferred habitat – damp, wooded areas. As its name suggests, the wood frog normally lives on the forest floor, stalking prey such as beetles or flies.
The wood frog is terrestrial most of the year, hibernating on land through the winter, and returning to ponds in the early spring while the ice is still present to mate. Males arrive first and produce a feeble quacking call to attract mates. Several females lay their eggs together, forming a communal mass that attaches to vegetation at the water's surface.
