Cope's gray tree frog

Appearance

Both ''H. chrysoscelis'' and ''H. versicolor'' have bright-orange patches on their hind legs, which distinguishes them from other tree frogs, such as ''H. avivoca''. 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. Similar hidden bright patterns are common in various Lepidoptera, for instance moths of the genus ''Catocala''. Both species of gray tree frogs are slightly sexually dimorphic. Males have black or gray throats in the breeding season, while the throats of the females are lighter.


Skin secretions from this species may be irritating or toxic to mouth, eyes, other mucus membranes.

Distribution

The range of ''H. chrysoscelis'' is more southerly; it is apparently the species found in the lower elevation Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia and the Carolinas. In those areas, ''H. versicolor'' may be present only in the Appalachians. The bird-voiced tree frog, ''H. avivoca'', is similar to ''H. chrysoscelis'' and ''H. versicolor'', but is smaller .

Behavior

In the Southeastern United States, Cope's gray tree frog breeds and calls from May to August. 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 and call together. Chorusing is most frequent at night, but individuals often call during daytime in response to thunder or other loud noises. Eggs are laid in batches of 10 to 40 on the surfaces of shallow ponds and other small bodies of water. These temporary bodies of water usually lack fish, and females preferentially lay their eggs in water bodies that lack fish or other predatory vertebrates and have lower desiccation risk. Eggs hatch in about five days and metamorphosis takes place at about 45–65 days.

''Hyla chrysoscelis'' is capable of surviving temperatures as low as –8 °C.

Habitat

The range of ''H. chrysoscelis'' is more southerly; it is apparently the species found in the lower elevation Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia and the Carolinas. In those areas, ''H. versicolor'' may be present only in the Appalachians. The bird-voiced tree frog, ''H. avivoca'', is similar to ''H. chrysoscelis'' and ''H. versicolor'', but is smaller .