ANIMAL: Cope’s Gray Tree Frog Dryophytes chrysoscelis Type of Animal: Frog Habitat: Tree areas, trees near ponds, fishless wetlands, swamps, ephemeral wetlands/edges, woodland ponds, pond edges, woodland lakes, ditches, lake edges, temporary shallow ponds, river backwaters, woodlands/forests, forest edge, forest openings near water, grasslands, prairie, meadows, fields, piedmont, mountainous areas, thickly wooded suburban neighborhoods, farm woodlots, coastal plains, false nettle/reedgrass/swamp white oak sapling areas, moss/lichen-covered fences, knothole cavities, bluebird nesting boxes, urban environments, under bark/leaves, crevices, house sides, woodlot edges, oak savanna Location(s): E half of US from E Dakotas/Nebraska/Kansas/Oklahoma/Texas eastward as far S as N Florida & as far NE as Maine. Also found in SE Canada in S Manitoba, S Ontario, & S Quebec. Appearance: Looks very similar to Eastern Gray Tree Frog, color ranging from gray to green but greener than E species, females larger than males, males have darker throats than females (especially in breeding season), black-marked bright orange to yellow patches on hind legs, smaller than E Gray Tree Frog, froglets often greener than adults Food/Diet: Insects, insect larvae, mites, plant lice, spiders, harvestmen, snails, worms, smaller tree frogs (including smaller members of own species). Tadpoles eat algae, dead plant matter, & underwater plants. Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, aquariums, & herpetoculture Lifestyle: Found in small groups Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Tadpole Group: Army Weight: Male: 0.22 oz Female: 0.24 oz Gestation: 3-7 days Life Span: 7-9 years Body Length: Male: 1-1.25 in Female: 1.25-1.5 in Main predators of adults are snakes, alligators, turtles, birds, mammals, larger frogs, many fish, lizards, salamanders, & giant water bugs. Diving beetles, dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, & larger amphibian larvae eat tadpoles. Female can lay 1,000-2,000 eggs a season. Eggs hatch 3-7 days after being laid, coming out as tadpoles. Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets at 6-8 weeks old, becoming adults around 2 years old. Best way to distinguish this species from closely related Eastern Gray Tree Frog is not by appearance but by calls. E Gray Tree frog males have musical birdlike trills. Cope’s Gray Tree Frog males have high-pitched buzzing trills. Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs slightly smaller. Most often nocturnal. Breeding/calling season lasts from late April-early July. Hibernate in winter by taking refuge in trees. Despite sharing range/habitat, they rarely interbreed. Fun Fact(s): Large sticky toe pads help it cling to surfaces. Coloration in groin/leg area may help deter predators, since it confuses them. Produces glycerol when exposed to colder temps, acting as natural antifreeze. They’re excellent at camouflage.
