ANIMAL: American Green Tree Frog Dryophytes cinereus Type of Animal: Frog Habitat: Ponds, lakes, marshes, streams, lagoons, wetlands, & swamps w/ floating vegetation, backyard swimming pools, shrubbery, coastal plains, wet prairies, window sills, vegetated areas near water Location(s): Found in SE US except for Appalachia & can be found as far west as C Texas & as far north as Delaware/E Maryland, pocket population in C Missouri Appearance: Green in shades from bright yellowish-olive to lime green, sometimes has small patches of white/gold on skin, sometimes have white, pale yellow, or cream lines running from jaws/upper lips to groin, large toe pads, smooth skin, pale yellow to white abdomen, males have more wrinkly throats & vocal pouch. Food/Diet: Crickets, worms, insect larvae, flies, mosquitoes, moths, ants, beetles, pill bugs, sow bugs Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from zoos, aquariums, & private breeders Lifestyle: Found in small groups of 6-10 frogs for most of year. Huge groups of hundreds gather in breeding season (late March-early October). Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Tadpole Group-Army Weight: Male-0.22 oz Female-0.53 oz Gestation: 1 week Life Span: 5 years Body Length: Male-2 in Female-2.5 in Main predators of adults are snakes, birds, larger frogs, many fish, lizards, turtles, alligators, & carnivorous/omnivorous mammals. Giant water bugs & some fish prey on tadpoles. Males call a lot during long breeding season, especially at night. They often croak, sing, & quack. They call loudest in damp weather. Tadpoles become froglets at 2 months & mature at 1 year old. Females often lay 100-400 eggs each breeding season. Most active at night (nocturnal). Like most amphibians, they breathe through skin & lungs. Sticky toe pads & long legs well adapted for arboreal lifestyle. Some scientists think an organ on top of the head may be used for compass orientation/thermoregulation. Fun Fact(s): State amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana. They’re popular pets. They’re an important indicator species. Sometimes called rain frogs due to loud calls they make preceding rainy weather. Like many tree frogs, they’re excellent at camouflage often resembling green vegetation. Like many frogs, they prefer not being handled. When they shed skin, they’ll crunch body up into uncomfortable crunching position & puff body up to loosen skin, then will convulse as if coughing. In Florida where invasive & predatory Cuban Tree Frogs live, males of this species have modified calls to avoid hybridization. Male Cuban tree frogs have similar call to male green tree frogs. Calls can be heard up to a mile away.
