Squirrel Treefrog - Hyla squirella
Quank quank (very nasal)
Description & Identification:
Small, may reach 1.5" (38mm). Highly variable in color; generally brown with reddish tones on trunk and limbs; back is bronzy brown and it may have two prominent brown stripes or it may be mottled; pink to pinkish brown color from the eyes to the snout; legs are banded with brown; underside is whitish to gray. Toe pads are tiny.
Development:
Eggs are laid on moist soil, under vegetation or debris. Egg hatches into a frog with a tiny tail. There is no free tadpole stage; tadpole metamorphoses within the egg.
Habitat & Behaviors:
Ubiquitous, common in yards, gardens, and around houses frequently feeding near porch lights which attract insects; may be found in or on decaying logs and stumps when not in breeding ponds. During winter, may utilize insect burrows, rotting logs, and trash piles as hibernacula. Observed under loose bark of logs over or near the edges of streams or swamps.
Similar Species:
Green treefrogs have well-defined stripes along sides; barking treefrogs often have spots on back; chorus frogs without prominent toe pads; pinewoods treefrog have "windows" on rear (inside) of thighs; spring peepers have an "X" across back; Cuban treefrogs have warty skin. Gray treefrogs and western bird-voiced treefrogs have a white, squarish spot under the eyes but are are not found in the Hillsborough River basin.
Voice Call:
Duck-like, raspy "quank, quank, quank", not very loud; its rain call, usually voiced away from water, is more rapid and resembles a squirrel scolding a cat or dog; late April through early September.
This frog has been observed at the following locations. Click on the map to view the data.
