Cope’s gray treefrog

(Dryophytes chrysoscelis)

Conservation Status
Cope’s gray treefrog
Photo by Jeff LeClere
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

S5 - Secure

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Dryophytes is a genus of small treefrogs. Only two species occur in Minnesota, gray treefrog and Cope’s gray treefrog. The two species are almost identical in appearance, and are difficult to tell apart in the field, even by experts. The most reliable ways to distinguish between them is by listening to their calls or examining their chromosomes under a microscope. However, the chromosomes are normally invisible under a light microscope. They become visible only when the cell duplicates.

Cope’s gray treefrog is a small, solitary, nocturnal frog. It is 1¼ to 2 long at maturity. Females are larger than males.

The upper (dorsal) surface is warty. It may have blotches but often does not. If there are blotches then the blotches are usually not outlined in black. The background color can change in seconds from green, light grayish-green, gray, brown, or dark brown. The color is determined by the color of the background, the season, and the humidity. It is most often some shade of gray. There is usually a large, irregular, dark blotch on the back. Beneath each eye there is a small spot. The spot is white or another light color, and it may be prominent or obscure.

The belly is white. On females the chin is pale olive-gray. On males the chin is darker gray.

The toes end in large adhesive pads. On males, the lower (ventral) side of the hind legs is bright yellow or yellowish-orange.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

1¼ to 2

 
     
 

Voice

 
 
Listen to Cope’s gray treefrog
 
     
 

A fast trill lasting 1 to 3 seconds, not varying in pitch

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Gray treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor) is almost indistinguishable morphologically. The dorsal surface is rougher and usually blotched. The blotches are outlined in black. The call of gray treefrog is a slower trill with about half as many notes. They prefer more wooded habitats.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Forest edges, prairies, oak savannas, areas near permanent or temporary waters. Near street lamps and lighted buildings at night.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are usually found high in trees, on mossy or lichen-covered fences, or sometimes in abandoned bird houses. They are rarely found on the ground except in breeding season.

During breeding season the adult’s background color is usually green.

 
     
 

Lifespan

 
 

Unknown. Probably 5 to 7 years.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Breeding occurs from April to July, peaking in May to June. After breeding, the female will deposit 450 to 600 packets of 30 to 40 eggs each on emergent vegetation at the surface of a shallow pond or a permanent or temporary pool. The eggs hatch in about three weeks and metamorphosis occurs about four weeks later. The tadpole is about 2 long preceding metamorphosis.

Adults overwinter under the shelter of a log, rock, bark, or leaf litter. They are freeze tolerant and can survive multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Glycerine is produced preventing the formation of ice crystals in vital organs. They live 5 to 7 years.

 
     
 

Tadpole Food

 
 

Algae, material from dead and decaying plants and animals (detritus).

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Insects, insect larvae, mites, spiders, plant lice, harvestmen, snails, and smaller frogs.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 14, 24, 29, 30, 60, 73, 76, 78.

The counties in lighter green represent distribution data from the USGS National Amphibian Atlas (60) that does not occur in any of the other sources in the link list above. This may represent the species geographical range rather than records of observations.

 
  1/22/2023      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and widespread

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Amphibia (amphibians)  
  Superorder Batrachia (amphibians)  
  Order Anura (frogs and toads)  
  Suborder Neobatrachia  
  Superfamily Hyloidea  
 

Family

Hylidae (tree frogs and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Hylinae  
 

Genus

Dryophytes (Ameroasian treefrogs)  
       
 

Species
Gray treefrog and Cope’s gray treefrog were, until 1968, considered the same species.

Genus
The genus Dryophytes was originally described in 1843. In 1882 all Dryophytes species were transferred to the genus Hyla, which then contained all treefrog species in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2014 North American species were placed in the new subgenus Dryophytes. In 2016 the subgenus was raised to genus level, resurrecting the original genus. Today, the genus Hyla now contains only Old World species. All North American treefrog species, and three species in temperate eastern Asia, now belong to the genus Dryophytes. The common name for the genus is Ameroasian treefrogs. The last move was not universally accepted. iNaturalist, AmphiaWeb, MNHerps, VertNet, and National Amphibian Atlas (USGS) all continue to use the genus Hyla. ITIS, NatureServe, GBIF, and Amphibian Species of the World use Dryophytes.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Dryophytes versicolor chrysoscelis

Dryophytes versicolor sandersi

Hyla chrysoscelis

Hyla femoralis chrysoscelis

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Cope’s gray treefrog

southern gray treefrog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Jeff LeClere

 
    Cope’s gray treefrog   Cope’s gray treefrog  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

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Dryophytes chrysoscelis
krloucks

 
  Dryophytes chrysoscelis  

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Cope's Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) Frog in Shelby North Carolina
neofilm
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 14, 2010

A Cope's Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) hanging out in my backyard in Shelby, NC.

 
  2 Dryophytes chrysoscelis, Cope's Gray Treefrogs
lafleurlabvideos
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jan 28, 2009

Cope's Gray treefrogs recorded by Gary LaFleur on a Sony DSC F717 using nightshot feature; in the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary, specifically at the Sanchez Rd Boat Launch, in parking lot willow tree. This work was supported by Louisiana Atelier for Reproduction in Amphibians (LARA) at Nicholls State University. Clip uploaded by J. Loup. Species ID is tentative and not verified, particularly in consideration of recent nomenclature changes.

 
  Cope's Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) calling.
Donald Becker
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 6, 2013

No description available.

 
  Cope's gray treefrog
HerpNet
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Mar 20, 2009

Cope's gray treefrog calling

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Jeff LeClere
7/30/2015

Location: Redwood County

Cope’s gray treefrog  
  Jeff LeClere
6/20/2008

Location: Washington County

Cope’s gray treefrog  
           
 
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Created 6/19/2006

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