Although the name may imply that it is always gray, Cope's Gray Treefrogs can actually change color from gray to green, tan, or brown. Gray treefrogs overwinter belowground. Dorsal coloration of adults can either be gray or bright green in color, and individuals have the ability to change colors within a few hours. Light spot beneath the eye. This coloration is often determined by environmental factors. The tadpoles are eaten by predaceous aquatic insects and salamander larvae. Similar species: The green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) is the only other treefrog in Missouri, and it is indeed truly green. Both have somewhat rough, warty skin; a whitish spot under … The glucose acts like a kind of antifreeze and pr… Like some other frogs, they produce a substance in their blood that functions as antifreeze. Toe pads are large and rounded. Cope It (cope’s gray tree frog call Hyla chrysoscelis), which derives its name from Cope, a settlement in the state of South Carolina. … These frogs eat insects, spiders, and other invertebrates and are preyed upon by bullfrogs, wading birds, and ribbon-, garter-, and watersnakes. These two species — the gray treefrog and Cope’s gray treefrog — are very similar. These frogs eat insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. Description: This frog is identical to Gray Treefrogs, but Cope’s Gray Treefrogs are diploid. In fact, Dr. Gerhardt and one of his students have been able to artificially create frogs with three sets of chromosomes (midway between the two of a Cope’s and the four of a gray tree frog). *The Gray Treefrog and Cope’s Gray Treefrog are identical in physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior. The call of the gray treefrog (H. versicolor) is a musical birdlike trill. Cope’s gray treefrog (H. chrysoscelis) occurs in eastern, southeastern, northwestern, and western Missouri. The glycerol is changed to glucoseand then it is circulated through the frog's cells. The trilling and buzzing of this species during breeding season can make an early summer evening pleasant. Cope's gray treefrogs were originally designated as a subspecies of pine woods treefrogs (Hyla femoralis chrysoscelis; Cope, 1880). Color varies from green, brown, gray, to almost black. In Missouri, normally active from April to October, and breed from early April to early July. Males gather and call at fishless sloughs, woodland ponds, and swamps. The back may have a random pattern of darker color. … Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Common Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) Listed: Hyla versicolor listed as Signicantly Rare by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program. Cope's Gray Treefrog Other Names: Western Gray Treefrog, Gray Treefrog Scientific Name: Hyla chrysoscelis Family: Hylidae Return to Frog and Toad Identification. The two species have very similar genes, and appear identical; however, the eastern gray treefrog possesses a second chromosome set, twice the number of chromosomes as Cope's gray treefrog. It hibernates under leaves, bark, or rocks on the forest floor. It produces large amounts of glycerol. The upper body is dark and warty. Also sometimes known as Southern gray treefrog. In the field, it is difficult to distinguish which frog is calling, unless they are both calling on the same night. Large adhesive pads on tips of fingers and toes enable them to climb vegetation. Adult Description: The Cope’s Gray Treefrog medium-sized frog with adults usually ranging from 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) in length. Females produce 900–3,000 or more eggs, in clumps of 20–90 attached to floating vegetation. Great Places to See Gray Treefrog and Cope's Gray Treefrog. It is sometimes referred to as the eastern gray treefrog, northern gray treefrog, common gray treefrog, or tetraploid gray treefrog to distinguish it from its more southern, genetically disparate relative, Cope's gray treefrog. The breeding season for the Cope’s Gray Tree Frog is from March to August. The call of Cope’s gray treefrog (H. chrysoscelis) is a high-pitched buzzing trill, and this species tends to be smaller and is more often green than its lookalike relative. It spends the day resting in trees and shrubs. I say Cope's because I've heard their vocalizations before at this site and I don't believe Northern Gray Treefrogs are at this locale. Coloration ranges from brown and green to pearl gray. Discover How Long Cope's gray treefrog Lives. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Wright and Wright (1949) listed Cope's gray treefrogs as subspecies of eastern gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor chrysoscelis). The call of Cope’s gray treefrog is a high pitched buzzing trill with 34 to 69 pulses per second. Missouri’s herptiles comprise 43 amphibians and 75 reptiles. Cope’s Gray Treefrogs have a harsher faster trill, easily exceeding 50 trills per second and have nearly double the note repetition rate. The call of the gray treefrog (H. versicolor) is a musical birdlike trill. The gray treefrog (H. versicolor) occurs in northeastern, eastern, southern, and central Missouri. The two species have very similar genes, and appear identical; however, the eastern gray treefrog possesses a second chromosome set, twice the number of chromosomes as Cope's gray treefrog. These treefrogs are forest dwellers and live in small woodlots, in trees along prairie streams, in large tracts of mixed hardwood forest, and in bottomland forests along rivers and in swamps. Cope’s Gray Treefrog is limited in its range, occurring in the coastal plain and the most southwestern mountains of Virginia, where as the Gray Treetrog occurs primarily through the piedmont and the northwestern mountains (see range maps below). Cope’s gray tree frog Sometimes it is also called the Eastern gray tree frog or common tree frog or tetraploid they to distinguish it from its more cousin. They spend most of their time in the tree canopy, descending only at night and primarily to breed. Statewide. *The Gray Treefrog and Cope’s Gray Treefrog are identical in physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior. But having extra genetic material does have effects. A large white spot is always present below each eye. Except for an introduced population in Camden County, it is restricted to swampy areas in the Mississippi Lowlands in southeastern Missouri. Description & Size. The gray treefrog is a species of small arboreal holarctic tree frog native to much of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Cope's Gray Treefrog and Eastern Gray Treefrog Description. Note: There aren't many differences between this and the gray treefrog. They’re found in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and all the states east of them. Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Cope's Gray Treefrog (click on small images to view larger) Photos by (clockwise from top) Kevin Enge (FWC), Kristin Brown, Dr. Steve A. Johnson (UF), and Dirk Stevenson. Cope's Gray Treefrog is an endangered species in NJ. How this happens is not well understood. Cope described a lot of different species, over a thousand living and extinct species. Since temperature can affect the duration and frequency (pulse rate) of the call, it is difficult to identify the species in a monospecific chorus. Cope's gray treefrog is nocturnal. In a laboratory setting using audio analysis software, the trill rates are easily seen and heard in the structure of the call. Gray Tree Frogs inhabit the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. Length: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2-5.1 cm) Males have a dark … Cope's gray treefrog (H. chrysoscelis) and the Eastern gray treefrog (H. versicolor) are a unique example of speciation in action. In the field, the two species can … They usually have moist skin, lack scales or claws, and are ectothermal (cold-blooded), so they do not produce their own body heat the way birds and mammals do. Shades of gray, with black blotches on the back, are most common. These frogs can change their dorsal coloration and may be gray, gray-brown, gray-green, and possibly bright green (although, it is unknown if a Cope’s has been confirmed turning bright green). e.g., for each species individually see: The color varies from green to light greenish gray, gray, brown, or dark brown.