Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
.Description and Morphological Characteristics
Green Tree Frogs are relatively small frogs, ranging 1 ¼ to 2 ½ inches in length. Their bodies are slim with a flat, pointed head, and smooth moist skin. They are most commonly bright green, but color can vary depending on season, appearing more yellow during breeding and even slate gray in the winter. Small yellow or white flecks may be present, scattered across the back, and a distinct white or cream-colored lateral stripe runs from the jaw to the groin on either side. This stripe is often bordered by thin black lines and may vary in length between individuals, or be absent altogether. They feature long legs and large toepads, making them very adept at both jumping and climbing.
Range
Their native range extends from Maryland, south to Florida and the Keys, west to central Texas and along the Mississippi River Valley as far north as Illinois and Indiana. Isolated populations have been established in Missouri and the species has been introduced to the Big Bend Region of west Texas.
Habitat and Feeding
These frogs have adapted to a wide variety of habitats including swamps, rivers, streams, edges of ponds and lakes, and most anywhere there is waster, dense vegetation, and sandy banks. They require vegetation in or near the water since they spend most of their time living on leaves or stems, sheltering on the underside of the leaves during the day or when threatened. Their diet consists of invertebrates and arthropods such as flies, mosquitos, crickets, and spiders. In urban areas, they are drawn to lighted porches and windows where flying insects are active. Although they make good jumpers, green tree frogs tend to walk, and then leap awkwardly into space when trying to avoid capture.
Breeding and Reproduction
Breeding is triggered by precipitation and warmer temperatures and occurs from March to October throughout most of the range. Males congregate in large groups and calling activity peaks just before dark. The advertisement calls resemble the sound of a cowbell, or a short nasal “bark”, and are repeated several times per second. They start out slow and increase in speed and intensity within the first few seconds, ending abruptly. The calls are loud and easily dominate when multiples males are calling at the same time. Breeding is aquatic and females lay up to 400 eggs in small jelly packets that attach to floating vegetation in shallow water. Tadpoles hatch in 4-14 days, and can metamorphose within two months.
Conservation
Green Tree Frogs are very common and abundant throughout their range. They are not under federal protection but are included on the Texas Parks and Wildlife White List.
Pertinent References
Gunzburger, M. 2006. Reproductive ecology of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) in northwestern Florida. American Midland Naturalist 155:321-328.
Pham, L., Boudreaux, S., Karhbet, S., Price, B., Ackleh, S. A., Carter, J., and Pal, N. 2007. Population Estimates of Hyla cinerea (Schneider) (Green Tree Frog) in an Urban Environment. Southeastern Naturalist 6:203-216.
Redner, M., Brandon, R. A. 2005. Green Treefrog. Pp. 452-453 in M. Lannoo (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University of California Press, USA.
Saenz, D., Fitzgerald, L.A., Baum, K.A., and Conner, R.N. 2006. Abiotic Correlates of Anuran Calling Phenology: The Importance of Rain, Temperature, and Season. Herpetological Monographs 20:64-82
Account Author: Hailey Hester
Photos: James Childress
Edited by Christopher Schalk
Green Tree Frogs are relatively small frogs, ranging 1 ¼ to 2 ½ inches in length. Their bodies are slim with a flat, pointed head, and smooth moist skin. They are most commonly bright green, but color can vary depending on season, appearing more yellow during breeding and even slate gray in the winter. Small yellow or white flecks may be present, scattered across the back, and a distinct white or cream-colored lateral stripe runs from the jaw to the groin on either side. This stripe is often bordered by thin black lines and may vary in length between individuals, or be absent altogether. They feature long legs and large toepads, making them very adept at both jumping and climbing.
Range
Their native range extends from Maryland, south to Florida and the Keys, west to central Texas and along the Mississippi River Valley as far north as Illinois and Indiana. Isolated populations have been established in Missouri and the species has been introduced to the Big Bend Region of west Texas.
Habitat and Feeding
These frogs have adapted to a wide variety of habitats including swamps, rivers, streams, edges of ponds and lakes, and most anywhere there is waster, dense vegetation, and sandy banks. They require vegetation in or near the water since they spend most of their time living on leaves or stems, sheltering on the underside of the leaves during the day or when threatened. Their diet consists of invertebrates and arthropods such as flies, mosquitos, crickets, and spiders. In urban areas, they are drawn to lighted porches and windows where flying insects are active. Although they make good jumpers, green tree frogs tend to walk, and then leap awkwardly into space when trying to avoid capture.
Breeding and Reproduction
Breeding is triggered by precipitation and warmer temperatures and occurs from March to October throughout most of the range. Males congregate in large groups and calling activity peaks just before dark. The advertisement calls resemble the sound of a cowbell, or a short nasal “bark”, and are repeated several times per second. They start out slow and increase in speed and intensity within the first few seconds, ending abruptly. The calls are loud and easily dominate when multiples males are calling at the same time. Breeding is aquatic and females lay up to 400 eggs in small jelly packets that attach to floating vegetation in shallow water. Tadpoles hatch in 4-14 days, and can metamorphose within two months.
Conservation
Green Tree Frogs are very common and abundant throughout their range. They are not under federal protection but are included on the Texas Parks and Wildlife White List.
Pertinent References
Gunzburger, M. 2006. Reproductive ecology of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) in northwestern Florida. American Midland Naturalist 155:321-328.
Pham, L., Boudreaux, S., Karhbet, S., Price, B., Ackleh, S. A., Carter, J., and Pal, N. 2007. Population Estimates of Hyla cinerea (Schneider) (Green Tree Frog) in an Urban Environment. Southeastern Naturalist 6:203-216.
Redner, M., Brandon, R. A. 2005. Green Treefrog. Pp. 452-453 in M. Lannoo (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University of California Press, USA.
Saenz, D., Fitzgerald, L.A., Baum, K.A., and Conner, R.N. 2006. Abiotic Correlates of Anuran Calling Phenology: The Importance of Rain, Temperature, and Season. Herpetological Monographs 20:64-82
Account Author: Hailey Hester
Photos: James Childress
Edited by Christopher Schalk