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The gray treefrog is the largest tree frog in the northern states.
Scientifically speaking,only members of the Ranidae family are true frogs. In Ohio, this includes the bullfrog, green frog, leopard frog, pickerel frog, and wood frog. The others belong to the Hylidae family which includes the tree, chorus, and cricket frog. In general, frogs tend to have moist, relatively smooth skin.
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Gray Treefrog
Hyla versicolor
At-a-Glance
• Family: Hylidae (Frogs)
• Length: 1.25-2 inches
• Peak Breeding Activity: April-May
• Time to hatching : 3-7 days
• Number of offspring: 1,000-2,000
• Typical Foods: insects and insect larvae
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Description
The gray treefrog changes colors-from gray-green to a light pearl-gray, depending on background. One of the best camouflaged of all frogs, gray treefrogs can blend in so well with a tree that even a careful observer has trouble spotting it. Generally, it has a light-colored spot on each side of the head, beneath the eyes and a bright yellow coloration on the inside surface of the thighs. Well developed, sticky adhesive toe discs enable the gray treefrog to climb rapidly.
Habitat and Habits
This frog lives aloft, calling out from trees and shrubs, especially just before or after a
summer rain. It has a loud trill call, one to three seconds in duration. The gray treefrog’s trill rate is slower and more melodious than the harsher trill of Cope's gray. While the gray treefrog is found throughout Ohio, Cope's gray treefrog is restricted to the southern one-third of the state.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
These frogs seldom come down from the trees except during breeding season when they congregate at ponds. Eggs are fertilized externally and attach to aquatic plants in smaller clusters. No parental care is invloved. |
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