Hyla gratiosa
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008) |
| Barking Tree Frog | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Hyla |
| Species: | H. gratiosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyla gratiosa LeConte, 1856 |
|
The barking tree frog (Hyla gratiosa) is a tree frog, 5 to 7 centimeters long, and variable in color but easily recognizable due to the characteristic dark round markings on its dorsum. Individuals may be bright or dull green, brown, yellowish, or gray in color. It has prominent round toe pads and the male has a large vocal sac. It is the largest native tree frog in the United States, where it is found from Virginia to south Florida and eastern Louisiana, usually in coastal areas. The frog is known for its loud, strident barking call. It may also utter a repetitive single-syllable mating call. It has been known to chorus with other frogs of the same and similar species.
The barking tree frog burrows in the sand, especially when the temperature is hot. It also spends time high up in trees, especially during the day when it is less active. It breeds in shallow pools or ponds from March to August. It is a polygynous species, the female choosing the male on the basis of his call. Tadpoles can be nearly 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in length.
[edit] References
- ^ Hammerson, Geoffrey (2004). "Hyla gratiosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/55495. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
[edit] External links
Data related to Hyla gratiosa at Wikispecies 
Media related to Hyla gratiosa at Wikimedia Commons
| This Hylinae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
