Cope's Gray Treefrog

Description:

The Gray Treefrog uses cryptic coloration and rarely leaves the trees until breeding season. Their skin is able to assume most natural colors in which it comes into contact. Some sources state that color change is slightly slower than a chameleon; approximately one-half hour. The gray treefrog measures between 3.2 to 5.1 cm long. The largest holds a record of 6 cm. The dorsal surface of gray treefrogs is rough and lightly sprinkled with warts. The large toepads produce mucous to adhere to surfaces, including smooth bark or man-made structures, and are characteristic of the family Hylidae.

Habitat:

Gray treefrogs are reported to inhabit all elevations of wooded areas near temporary and permanent waters in such diverse surroundings as swamps, ponds, lakes, old fields, thickly wooded suburban neighborhoods, farm woodlots, and mixed or deciduous forests. During the summer months, they rest in damp rotten logs or hollow trees emerging to feed. In winter, they hibernate on land, and maybe found under woody debris logs, roots and leaf litter.

Notes:

The two species are indistinguishable by physical characteristics. Although sympatric in many areas and physically similar, they rarely hybridize due to the different pulse rate and pitch between the two calls. This creates a mating barrier, as females do not approach males with species inappropriate calls.