Hyla versicolor complex

NB. Not captive, seen on the wall of an outbuilding.

There are two nearly identical species of tree frogs in the north-east of the USA. Both are commonly known as gray treefrogs, but are given different scientific names: Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis. (Curiously Hyla versicolor has twice as many chromosomes as Hyla chrysoscelis, although how this came to be is not known).

For most purposes, it is sufficient to lump the two and refer to them as "gray treefrogs" or the Hyla versicolor complex. Both have the large toe pads which distinguish tree frogs. Both are slightly warty and shiny and are about (3 to 6 cm) in length. They can be bright green, gray or brown and can change colors before your very eyes. Under the hind legs is a flash of bright yellow or orange. They are very well camouflaged for their local environment; shrubs and bushes or trees growing around bodies of water.

Herpetologists can identify the two species by the breeding calls, if they know the temperature of the air and water where the frog was calling.

5 cm length