American green tree frog
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| iAmerican green tree frog | ||||||||||||||
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| Hyla cinerea Schneider, 1792 |
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 Approximate range
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The American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) is a common species of New World tree frog belonging to the genus Hyla. It is a popular species of pet frog.
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[edit] Habitat
American green tree frogs are usually found near lakes, farm ponds, floodplains, wetland and swamps. They live the southern United States and some areas to the north and west, including all of Florida, southern Georgia , Louisiana, Delaware, eastern Maryland and Virginia, eastern North Carolina and South Carolina, eastern Texas, and areas extending along the Mississippi Valley to southern Illinois. They may possibly also live in northeastern Mexico.
This is a common backyard species that can often be seen at porch lights, where they may gather to to look for insects to eat. During the day, the green tree frogs may be found resting on the plants beside the pond.
[edit] Characteristics
The frog is medium-sized, up to 6 centimeters (2.5 in). Their bodies are usually colored green with shades ranging from bright yellowish olive to lime green. The darkness of the colour can change depending on lighting or temperature. There may be some small patches of gold or white. They may also have a white, pale yellow, or cream-colored line running from the jaw or upper lip to the groin. They have smooth skin and large toe pads. The abdomen is pale yellow to white. Males have wrinkled throats (indicating the vocal pouch) and are slightly smaller than females.
Like most frogs, they eat a diet of insects (mostly crickets, moths, and flies) and other small invertebrates. They are sometimes seen on houses around windows or exterior lights, in search of insects.
The mating season takes place from mid-April to mid-August. Females lay up to 400 eggs in shallow water, which attach to the roots of aquatic plants. Embryos hatch within one week, and tadpoles transform between 55 to 63 days after hatching. Weather conditions influence breeding, which often takes place in rain. The frogs are often seen during and after a rainstorm. Tadpoles in captivity eat boiled vegetables, such as cucumbers or lettuce.[1]
[edit] Trivia
The American Green Tree Frog is the State Amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana.
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[edit] References
- Hammerson & Hedges (2004). Hyla cinerea. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
- Betten, Jane. "Hyla cinerea (green treefrog)." Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. [2]
- "Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea." Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of the Interior. [3]
