Spring is in full bloom and nature is busy, busy, busy with activity. Frogs have been hanging around ponds at night and calling for mates for a while now. In this blog, we are going to learn about some rather cool and unique group of frogs: TreeFrogs!
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| Mating Pair. Cope's Gray Treefrogs. Photo by ME. |
As their name suggests, treefrogs do hangout up in and around trees, though, only a few will actually go real far up into them. Treefrogs like other frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians, are amphibians. Amphibians, like reptiles, are cold-blooded, or as scientists call it, ectothermic. Which pretty much means the temperature in their environment determines their body temperature. It's interesting for sure!
Treefrogs are cool in many ways; such as how they are able to climb up into and on trees as well as other surfaces. According to Roger Conant and Joseph T. Collin's book, Peterson Field Guide: Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern/ Central North America, Treefrogs "are well adapted for an arboreal existence. Their toes end in adhesive discs, and their long limbs and digits help them cling to twigs and bark."
Now that we have learned a little general information about treefrogs, we will now dive into learning about some neat species of treefrogs in North Carolina.
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| Green Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
The first species we will learn about, is one you may not be familiar with due to its rarity and limited range in NC as well as in the US in general. This is a species that scientists are still learning about it. This species is the Pine Barrens Treefrog.
I'm currently needing to track down some new photos for this and maybe a few other blogs as well. Be sure to look up the Pine Barren's Treefrog online. They are beautiful animals.
As you can see the Pine Barrens Treefrog is a beautiful frog that many consider the most beautiful frog in the state, which I would agree with that. A neat fact about these guys is that they are listed as one of 2 of North Carolina's state amphibians; the other one is the Marbled Salamander.
According to The Frog and Toads of North Carolina: Field Guide and Recorded Calls by authors Michael E. Dorcas, Steven J. Price, Jeffrey C. Beane and Sarah Cross Owen, Pine Barren Treefrogs are "found in the pine forests and sandhills...Breeding habitats include Carolina bays, pocosins (shrub bogs)... and bogs adjacent to pine forests." Among other wetland habitats. They also seem to like to hang around wetlands with pitcher plants.
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| Pitcher Plants. Photo by ME. |
As far a their diet, I do not know for sure what they eat, but I imagine they would eat a variety of insects and arthropods, perhaps some larger prey items as well.
These particular treefrogs breed during the spring months through part of the fall months. Their calls are described as a nasal "honk" or "quonk" as is repeated swiftly. (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). Like other frogs, they lay eggs, then the eggs will hatch into tadpoles, then the tadpoles metamorph into young frogs.
Range of Pine Barrens Treefrog. Photo from internet.
As beautiful animals these frogs are, they are sadly becoming more rare. This is due to an already limited range and habitat loss. Conservation efforts are currently underway.
The next species of treefrog we will look at, has a similar name and can sometimes be mixed up with our first species, though they do not look a like at all. This species is more common and have a much more widespread range.
This species is the Pine Woods Treefrog.
Pine Woods Treefrogs are"reddish brown, reddish brown, brownish or grayish." (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). They can sometimes be a greenish brown color too. These guys can be a little tricky to identify and sometimes may have to be captured for certain identification. These frogs have "a row of small orange, yellow, or whitish spots in the rear of the thigh(s)." (Conant, Collins).
As the name suggests, these guys can be found in pine wood forests as well as other wetland type habitats. These frogs are one of the few species that will climb high up into the treetops.
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| Note the distinctive yellow dots along rear of thigh. Photo by ME. |
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| Good habitat for treefrogs. |
Like other treefrogs, these guys would probably go for various insects and arthropods for prey items.
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| Pine Woods Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
From March up until October, male pine woods treefrogs gather around wetlands and temporal pools to call for females and breed. The males make a "kek-kek-kek" call which is distinctive and is sometimes described sounding like Morse code. (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). Like other frogs and toads, these guys go through metamorphosis.
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| Pine Woods Treefrog range in NC. Photo from herpsofnc.org |
Our next species of treefrog we will learn about, is one of my favorites. This is the Barking Treefrog.
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| Barking Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
As you can see, Barking Treefrogs are rather large and chunky frogs. They are North Carolina's largest treefrog. Like other treefrogs, they be various colors. They are "generally green with reddish-brown or purple spots...The barking treefrog can change color rapidly, from green to gray or brown." (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen).
In regards to habitat, barking treefrogs hangout in pine forests, swamps, and various wetlands. If you look closely at the picture below, you can see that these frogs have rather large pads on its toes. These pads help them to climb high up into the trees. A neat fact about this species is that they will not only climb up into trees, but will also burrow. "In hot, dry weather, often takes shelter in sand or soil beneath roots or clumps of grass or other vegetation." (Conant, Collins).
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| Barking Treefrog |
In regards for their diet, barking treefrogs would probably eat various insects and arthropods, as well as other small critters they could get a hold of.
Like their names suggests, the males of this species makes a call during their breeding season that, from a distance, sounds like dogs barking. It is very cool! "Their call is a single "toonk" given every few seconds." Another neat fact is that unlike other treefrogs, barking treefrogs will call while floating on the water surface. (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). Breeding season for this species is from April to September.
Below is the Range of the Barking Treefrog. Photo from amphibiaweb.org
Our next species is the Green Tree Frog.
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| Green Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
As you can see, the green treefrog is, well, green. This is not always the case as sometimes they can be olive or brownish. (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). As seen in the picture below.
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| Green Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
A key characteristic of this species is a bright white to yellowish stripe that runs along its face and body( both sides). There are exceptions and some individuals may not have it. Some also have yellowish or orange speckles on their backs. These guys are often confused with the Squirrel Treefrog, which I will write about a little later in the post. Look for the stripe along the face and body to help identify a green tree frog.
Green Treefrogs can be quite plentiful in the right habitats. Such habitats include: swamps, ponds, and other various wetlands where there are places to hide, breed and there is a food source.
Green Treefrogs prey on various insects and arthropods. Sometimes they will hang around porch lights and hunt the insects hanging around.
Breeding season for these frogs is typically from April to September. "During the breeding season, their loud, monotonic, nasal "queenk, queenk, queenk" call can be heard... From a distance, large congregations of green treefrogs sound like cowbells." (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen).
A neat fact about these frogs is that you can sometimes find them sleeping on some vegetation. I have found them on several occasions sleeping on cattail plants.
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| Photo by ME. |
Also, another neat fact about them as well as other species of treefrogs, scientists will often put out PVC pipes around wetlands to attract treefrogs to observe and study them and their populations. Treefrogs will often hide and even sleep in the PVC pipes during the day.
Here is the range for the Green Treefrog in NC. Photo from wikipedia.
So, our next treefrog, is a species that often gets mixed up with the green treefrog. I am writing about them, next to each other so hopefully it will help you differentiate the two.
Our next species is the Squirrel Treefrog.
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| Squirrel Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
So as I have mentioned already, the Squirrel Treefrog is often confused with the Green Treefrog. However, the squirrel treefrog "generally has a poorly developed yellowish stripe on each side and sometimes spotting on the back." The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: Field Guide and Recorded Calls.
Squirrel Treefrogs are found in a wide range of habitats: swamps, pine forests, and even in people's backyards. These are commonly seen hanging around a porch light at night, hunting the insects flying around the light.
I have even encountered one (pictured below) out in the outer banks at Jockey Ridge! So if there is suitable habitat, these guys can be common and widespread!
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| Squirrel Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
Squirrel Treefrogs will eat a variety of insects and arthropods. One night, I saw one hanging out near my front porch light and he jumped out at a moth, captured it with its mouth, and ate it. It was cool!
Breeding season typically goes from April through September. The males call and it is a "nasal "waaak, waak," repeated about 15 times in 10 seconds. They also have a "rain call," which is a scolding, squirrel-like rasp usually performed away from the water before or during rain storms." The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: Field Guide and Recorded Calls.
Another neat fact is that they can sometimes be found hiding in PVC pipes that scientists put out to attract them. You can sometimes find them with other squirrels, or even other species of treefrogs. I have encountered a few hiding with a pine woods treefrog. Another few occasions have seen a squirrel hiding with a green treefrog.
Here is the range of squirrel treefrogs in NC. Photo from amphibiaweb.org
So the final treefrog we will be learning about is the Gray Treefrog. So, there are actually 2 species of Gray Treefrogs in North Carolina; the Common Gray Treefrog and the Cope's Gray Treefrog. Despite its name, the Common Gray Treefrog has been documented from only two counties in NC; Warren and Caswell Counties. The Common Gray is considered rare, and they look very similar to the Cope's Gray. There is a difference in calls and chromosomes; so very tough to tell the 2 apart. I will only be covering the Cope's as it is the most common and most likely one you will encounter.
Cope's Gray Treefrog.
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| Cope's Gray Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
In addition to fact Cope's Gray Treefrogs are in fact gray, they also somewhat rough, warty skin. If you look closely, they have somewhat large toe pads. So, they are fairly easy to identify. They do also have "bright orange or golden yellow on the underside of each hind leg." The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: Field Guide and Recorded Calls.
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As for habitat, they like places with lots of shrubs and trees near ponds and other wetlands. Cope's Gray Treefrogs will eat various insects and arthropods.
Breeding takes place from April-August. The males "have a harsh, rapid trill." (Dorcas, Price, Beane, Owen). During breeding season, like other treefrogs, cope's gray treefrogs will come down from their trees and gather around a wetland of some kind to call and breed, and lay eggs.
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| Photo by ME. |
A neat thing about these frogs, is that after the tadpoles metamorph into young frogs, the frogs are a greenish-gray color. It is neat!
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| Newly Morphed Cope's Gray Treefrog. Photo by ME. |
Another neat fact about these frogs is that their grayish coloration as well, like other treefrogs ( which is so awesome), their ability to change color, helps them blend in very well with trees that they hangout in.
Here is the range of Cope's Gray Treefrogs in NC. Photo from amphibiaweb.org
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So that pretty much sums it up for NC's treefrogs. If you are interested in learning about the Common Gray Treefrog, I would encourage you to look it up and conduct some of your own research.
Again, if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
