Green Treefrog

Hyla cinerea

Description

Green Tree Frogs are relatively common in the whole state of Mississippi. They’re medium-sized tree frogs that are usually fully green, but can be an “ashy” or “cindery” gray-brown on occasion (hence “cinerea”). They usually have a bold, clean white line from the lip down to the side of the body. They can also have small yellow spots on the dorsum. Calling males are a common sound in wet spring and summer nights. Listen for a continuous “mehp mehp” or “wehp wehp” near bodies of water.

A small individual clinging to a twig above a cold ephemeral pond, Tangipahoa Par. (LA)

Identifying Traits

  • Bold, clean white line on side of body (occasionally not present)
  • One or more yellow spots on back (not always present)
  • Green tympanum and “hands” (differentiates from squirrel tree frog)
Range

Habitat

In and on edges of woodlands, usually close to water (Peterson et al., 2016)

Behavior

Listen for a continuous “mehp mehp” or “wehp wehp” near bodies of water from the males in breeding season.

Green Treefrogs call in a Mississippi wetland
A handful of Green Treefrogs calling amidst a chorus of Barking Treefrogs

Diet

Various invertebrates

H. cinerea, Issaquena Co. (MS)
Adult frog in water-conservation pose on Dwarf Palmetto, St. Landry Par. (LA)
Green Treefrog encountered on biological survey, St. Mary Par. (LA),
© Brittany Maldonado
Individual with reduced white striping, St. Martin Par. (LA)