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The animal on the cover of Jenkins: The Definitive Guide is an ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata). These small amphibians, only 1–1.5 inches long, can be found on the coastal plains of North America from North Carolina to central Florida and eastern Louisiana. They prefer areas of shallow water without dense vegetation, such as ponds, roadside ditches, and flooded meadows.
The coloration of ornate chorus frogs varies depending on locale, and individuals can be predominantly black, white, brown, red, green, or some variation thereof. All specimens, though, display a dark stripe or collection of spots running from the nostril to the shoulder through the eye, and most have various other spots or stripes as well. The species breeds from November to March, and the calls of males can be heard from in or near areas of shallow water.