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• Conservation Status
• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Diet
• Reproduction
• Behavior
• Song/Voice
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Notes
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Conservation Status

Status

This is a common frog that is under no threat at present. Preservation of wetlands and the vegetation borders around wetlands will protect its habitat.

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Calamita cinereus Schneider, 1799
2. Hyla cinerea subsp. cinerea (Schneider, 1799)
3. Hyla cinerea subsp. evittata Miller, 1899
4. Hyla evittata Miller, 1899

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 29-Aug-2005

Physical Description

Species Hyla cinerea:

Size: A moderate - sized, slender treefrog, 3.2 - 5.7 cm (1 1/4 - 2 1/4 in) in length.

Color: Skin usually a bright green, but can vary from yellowish to a dull greenish gray. A prominent white stripe extends from the mouth along the side of the body. The length of the stripe is variable. It usually extends almost to the thigh, but is absent in some populations. There may be small gold spots on the back. The belly color is light cream to green. Green Treefrogs often have a few tiny yellow dots on their backs.

Other things to look for: The Green Treefrog has large toe pads.

The Green Treefrog is a slender frog, reaching 2.5 inches in length. The color is generally a bright green as seen here. Occasionally specimens may be lighter or even fade to a yellowish green. There is normally a distinct white or yellowish line running laterally along the side of the frog from the snout to the vent, but this stripe may occasionally be reduced or absent. They also can also have yellow flecks on the back. Green Treefrogs may be heard calling anytime from March to October in the South, and during the spring in the northern part of its range

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Caribbean; North America; Middle America

Habitat

Prefers swamps and forested wetlands with ample ground cover and aquatic vegetation, where it can be found among floating plants or in the vegetation around the water.

Diet

An opportunistic feeder and eats small insects and other invertebrates.

Reproduction

This frog breeds from March through October. Fertilization is external. Females lay up to 400 eggs in shallow water with aquatic vegetation. Hatching occurs within a week and transformation occurs in two months.

From a distance, their call sounds like a cowbell. Calling and egg-laying are particularly frequent after rainstorms.

This species interbreeds with the Barking Treefrog. The resulting hybrid is much stockier than the Green Treefrog, but has the Green Treefrog's coloration.

Behavior

During the day, the Green Treefrog likes to hide under waterside vegetation or in other moist, shady areas. Supposedly, this species prefers to walk rather than jump. Known as the "rain frog" due to the fact that it mostly calls during damp weather. They tend to congregate in extremely large groups.

Song/Voice

Hyla cinerea
Recordist: Dorota

Hyla cinerea
Recordist: Dorota

Hyla cinerea

Similar Species

Members of the genus Hyla:

There are approximately 731 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: H. abbreviata · H. abdivita · H. acreana · H. acuminata · H. adelaidensis · H. affinis · H. africana · H. albofrenata · H. alboguttata · H. albomarginata · H. albonigra · H. albopuncata · H. albopunctata · H. albopunctulata · H. albosignata · H. albotaeniata · H. albovittata · H. alemani · H. alleei · H. alleni · H. allenorum · H. altae · H. altipotens · H. aluminiata · H. alvarengai · H. alytolylax · H. amboinensis · H. ameibothalame · H. americana · H. amicorum · H. anataliasiasi · H. anceps · H. and · H. andersoni · H. andersonii (Pine Barrens Tree Frog) · H. andina · H. angiana · H. angularis · H. angustilineata · H. annectans · H. aperomea · H. araguaya · H. arborea (Common Tree Frog) · H. arborea arborea · H. arborea daponica · H. arborea kretensis · H. arborea molleri · H. arborea sarda · H. arborea savignyi · H. arborea schelkownikowi · H. arborea var. meridionalis Boettger, 1874 · H. arborescandens · H. arboricola · H. arenicola · H. arenicolor (Canyon Treefrog) · H. arfakiana · H. argenteovirens · H. ariadne · H. arildae · H. armata · H. aromatica · H. astartea · H. atlantica · H. auraria · H. aurata · H. aurea · H. aurea ulongae · H. aurifasciatus · H. avicoca avicoca · H. avivoca (Bird-Voiced Treefrog) · H. avivoca avicoca · H. avivoca avivoca · H. baileyi · H. balzani · H. bambusicola · H. battersbyi · H. baudini · H. baudini dolomedes · H. baudinii · H. baudinii baudinii · H. baumgardneri · H. becki · H. benitezi · H. berthalutzae · H. bicolor · H. bifurca · H. bifurca andersson · H. biobeba · H. bipunctata · H. bischoffi · H. bischoffi bischoffi · H. bischoffi multilineata · H. bistincta · H. bivittata · H. bivocata · H. blairi · H. boans · H. boans boans · H. bocourti · H. boesemani

More Info

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 21, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed July 28, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 173505
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 234673
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: AAABC02060
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 324