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Hyla cinerea 
Our Ambassador
Purchased from a legal source.
Range
Isolated population in Hamilton Co, TN.
Habitat
Moist, shady areas near permanent water.
Size
1.25 to 2.25 inches long from snout to rump.
Appearance
Long legged, smooth skinned with bright green, yellow-green, or greenish grey coloration. Sharply defined light stripe on the upper jaw and side of the body.
Voice
Bell-like when heard from a distance. Can sound like a baby doll saying “Ma Ma” over and over, although they have several different calls for different reasons.
Eating Habits
Small insects.
Reproduction
March to October, females lay from 500 to 1,000 eggs. The eggs hatch in two to three days and the tadpoles transform into froglets in about a month.
Lifespan
Over 6 years
Interesting Facts
- Treefrogs prefer to walk or climb using their sticky toe pads and are reluctant to leap.
- There is an isolated population of Green Treefrogs in Hamilton County.
- Green Treefrogs can be bioindicators of aquatic contamination, including contamination by many synthetic compounds used in pesticides, herbicides, and medications. For example,polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have a high affinity for fat and are easily introduced through the digestive system. PCBs continue to accumulate with repeated exposure and should increase with organisms that have more fat. The thin, permeable skin of frogs and toads puts them at a higher risk because compounds are so easily absorbed. Tadpoles and metamorphs are considered to be good indicators of PCB accumulation in sediment because they are usually in more direct contact with contaminated sediment. Adults are considered to be general indicators of contaminated areas but not specific conditions.
Resources
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