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Cope's Gray Treefrog

Cope's Gray Treefrog

Hyla chrysoscelis

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Common
Habitat: Forest, Wetland, Urban
Activity: Nocturnal (Active at night)

A small treefrog with rough skin in varying shades of gray and black blotches. Usually, there is a white mark beneath the eye. They have black-marked bright orange to yellow patches on their hind legs, which distinguishes them from other treefrogs. The bright-yellow pattern is normally hidden, but exposed when the frog leaps. This “flash pattern” likely serves to startle a predator as the frog makes its escape.

Diet

Primarily feeds on insects such as moths, mites, spiders, plant lice, and harvestmen.

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)
Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Chordata
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Class: Amphibia
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Order: Anura
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Family: Hylidae
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Genus: Hyla
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Species: Hyla chrysoscelis

Scientific Name

Hyla chrysoscelis

Common Name

Cope's Gray Treefrog
Breeding Season
May-August

Behavior

Isolated males start calling from woodland areas during warm weather a week or more before migrating to temporary ponds to breed. There they form aggregations (choruses) and call together. Chorusing is most frequent at night, but individuals often call during daytime in response to thunder or other loud noises. When gray treefrogs hibernate, they appear rigid, and have a high freezing tolerance due to glycerol in the blood. During hibernation, 80% of the body freezes and the eye becomes opaque as breathing and heartbeat are temporarily suspended.

Ecological Role

Cope's gray treefrogs can play a critical role in the foodweb of their ecosystems. As tadpoles they may graze enough algae to change the community of algal species in their ponds. Later, local pest populations of mosquito, gnats, and flies are reduced in the territory of a single gray treefrog. The presence of Cope's gray treefrogs are used as a scientific tool to indicate the overall biodiversity and the level of contaminants in a region.

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)

Habitat Types

Forest
Wetland
Urban

Geographic Distribution

Native to North America, inhabiting a roughly rectangular range from southern Ontario and Maine, westward to central Texas, northwest to Manitoba, and northern Florida.

Local Abundance

Common

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

Threats & Impacts

Cope's Gray Treefrogs are not currently classified as endangered or of special concern. However, habitat destruction and human pollutants are contributing to the overall decline of amphibians, including frog and toad species.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife
No field notes or observations available for this species.

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