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Reptiles & Amphibians

Tree frog?

9 years ago

This spring I have had the good fortune of welcoming several small frogs to my backyard. I think they are true frogs, about 1.5 inches long, and I usually find them in grassy areas, even unearthed one last week while digging my garlic. However, today I found one in a shrub, at least 3 feet off the ground in a hibiscus plant. I have nurtured these little things since they are masters of camoufalge, and have done an excellent job of ridding my garden of slugs. I usually have to do a slug patrol each night, but I saw my first slug of the season just yesterday and my pepper plants and lettuce have been pristine. When I grew up we had large frogs in our backyard and the dogs usually half-killed them and it was an ugly scene (I think they were toads), but I would like to identify these little guys. Here's a pic. Any ideas?

Thank you.

Comments (6)

User
9 years ago
Looks like a Gray Treefrog, but it is hard to tell from that small photo.
northerner_on
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry about the size of the photo. I have a new camera and I need to find out how to change the settings. Thanks for your response.
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It all started with a good sized frog that we would see in and around our small garden tool shed at the pool. We live just north of Orlando and recently moved. When we moved, the shed went into storage - for 4 1/2 months. When we finally moved the shed from storage, guess who was there, healthy as could be - and with a friend, no less! We had no idea the 'poor things' were in there, much less how they could still be alive in that heat, with no food or water. And boy, can they hide!! Now the 6'h x2'x2' is home to as many as eight Cuban Tree Frogs every day! I think all but one are female, that's how they roll, one guy with his harem! They sleep all day and hunt all night. Our daughter volunteered to annihilate them for us. Those darn frogs have decimated our green anole population. Our backyard has many brown anoles, but only ONE green left. He cocks his head watching me, then goes back to licking the sweet base of the flower buds. All my life living in central Florida I have adored green anoles. Never even knew about or saw a brown one until vacationing near St.Pete Beach as an adult. Now they've moved farther north and browns are everywhere, and greens are scarce. Brown ones are much more aggressive, especially in mating season. I'll try to attach recent pix I took of 2 males fighting to the death. Over a girl. Not a pretty girl. Little eggs they buried are currently hatching and we have tiny brown babies all over the place. How I wish they were green... STOP WISHING - GET RID of the___ FROGS !!!!!!!
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Frogs are adorable, but they eat a lot of bugs. Your house won't have enough of them for him to eat. I have a friend who has a terrarium she keeps frogs in, she buys a lot of bugs at the pet store. Cannot say if they like this life or not, but she enjoys them.
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Yes i read earlier that the oil on our skin can harm them so that is why gloves should be worn. He seems like a nice fellow, i assume he is male since he is smaller. I try to watch out for him as there is this bird that is always comming around close by and im afraid the bird will see him and make dinner out of him. If i didnt live in an RV and have to limit the humidity in here i would get an aquarium and set it up real nice for him so that he would never have to worry about danger again. At one time he was living inside my RV rear bumber where i used to store the black hose. He was so cute, he would stick his little nose out the little square hole in the bumber end cover and get bugs. Thanks so much, if the wind comes up ill have to move him or be very very careful not to smash him when i close the awning.
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They’re voracious bug eaters! (He kind of looks like a Cuban, so he might eat other frogs, too.)
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Redfeather54
9 years ago
No I raise tree frogs. Without a clearer pic to see the colors better, I can not identify him for you. But It is not a tree frog.
northerner_on
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for your interest and the clarification, Redfeather. Here's a larger photo. which may help you identify it. I would be very interested in finding out its true identity.

{{gwi:2132467}}

Thank you.
groovy1
9 years ago
Hi Northerner,

The little guy in your photo is a gray tree frog. It may be a Northern gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) or a Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis). They are indistinguishable by sight, so they are either positively identified by call or by genetic analysis. This is a good find! Many people look for them amid a chorus but cannot see them.

A little trivia for you; in Greek mythology, Heracles (Hercules) mentored a boy who he loved as his own son. One day the boy was captured by water nymphs and held captive in a well. Heracles called out for the boy, and the boy cried out for Heracles, but he could not be found. The boy's name was Hylas, and is the root of the genus name for the tree frogs, Hyla.

Groovy1
northerner_on
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Groovy: Thanks very much for the info. on my little frog. There are at least two of them on our property.

The little Greek mythology trivia was novel. That was one of my favourite subjects as a nine year old and I have been hoping to take it as a special interest course through all my university days. But then work, marriage, and family came along and took over my life. But I am still thinking about retirement...should have some time then.

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