Gray Treefrog: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Frogs and Toads · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. The gray treefrog can shift from almost black to almost white to match its background. It changes more slowly than a chameleon.
2. Hidden under its back legs are bright yellow patches. You normally only see this flash of colour when the frog jumps.
3. It has a near-identical twin, Cope's gray treefrog. The best clue is the trill: Cope's call is shorter and faster.
4. On summer nights, gray treefrogs gather around windows and porch lights to snack on the insects drawn to the glow.
5. Fresh from the pond, the new little froglets nearly always go green for a day or two, then change to grey.

The quiz

1. How does the gray treefrog's colour change compare with a chameleon's?

• It is much faster
• It is slower (correct)
• It only happens once in its life
• It is exactly the same

It can go from nearly black to nearly white, but more slowly than a chameleon.

2. When can you normally see the bright yellow patches on its back legs?

• When it sleeps
• Only in winter
• When it eats
• When it jumps (correct)

The bright patches are usually only visible while the frog is jumping.

3. How can you tell the gray treefrog from its twin, Cope's gray treefrog?

• By its call (correct)
• By its red eyes
• By its size, twice as big
• By its blue belly

They look almost the same, but Cope's call is shorter and faster.

4. Why do gray treefrogs gather around porch lights at night?

• To keep warm
• To catch insects drawn to the light (correct)
• To lay their eggs
• To hide from the rain

Insects are attracted to the light, and the frogs come to eat them.

5. What colour do new froglets nearly always become for a short time?

• Red
• Black
• Green (correct)
• Blue

Froglets go green for a day or two, then become grey.

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