Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes versicolor
Quick answer
The gray tree frog is a small North American tree frog, around 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2.5 in) long, that can change its color from gray to green to match its surroundings. It is an excellent climber with large sticky toe pads and spends most of its life high in trees, descending to ponds only to breed. Gray tree frogs can live 7 to 9 years in the wild.
Gray Tree Frog facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Dryophytes versicolor |
|---|---|
| Diet | Insectivore (insects, mites, spiders) |
| Habitat | Forests and wooded wetlands |
| Lifespan | 7–9 years in the wild |
| Length | 3–6 cm (1.25–2.4 in) body length |
| Weight | About 7–9 g (0.25–0.3 oz) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Hylidae |
| Genus | Dryophytes |
Where it lives
Forests and wooded wetlands across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Behavior and camouflage
The gray tree frog is named for its mottled, bark-like coloring, but it can shift its color between gray, green, and brown over several minutes to blend with its perch. Its scientific name versicolor refers to this changeable hue. Large, sticky toe pads make it an agile climber, and it spends the warm months high in trees, only descending to call and breed.
Diet and feeding
These frogs are insectivores that hunt at night among leaves and branches. They eat insects, mites, spiders, and other small invertebrates, snatching prey with a quick sticky tongue. Tadpoles feed on algae and detritus in their breeding pools.
Habitat and range
Gray tree frogs live across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada in forests, woodlots, and wooded wetlands. They breed in shallow ponds, ditches, and flooded areas, where males call with a short musical trill on warm, humid nights. They are well adapted to cold, surviving winter by producing glycerol that protects their tissues from freezing.
Reproduction and conservation
In late spring and summer, females lay clusters of eggs that hatch into tadpoles in temporary and permanent pools. The species is listed as Least Concern and remains common across its range. Its main threats are the loss of woodland and breeding wetlands, along with pollution that can affect sensitive amphibian skin.
Frequently asked questions about the Gray Tree Frog
Can gray tree frogs change color?
Yes. Gray tree frogs can shift their color between gray, green, and brown over several minutes to match their surroundings, which helps them stay camouflaged on bark and leaves.
What do gray tree frogs eat?
They are insectivores that eat insects, mites, spiders, and other small invertebrates, hunting at night among the leaves and branches of trees.
Where do gray tree frogs live?
Gray tree frogs live in forests and wooded wetlands across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, spending most of their time high in trees.
How long do gray tree frogs live?
In the wild they typically live 7 to 9 years, and well-cared-for individuals in captivity can sometimes live longer.
How do gray tree frogs survive winter?
They are freeze-tolerant. As temperatures drop, gray tree frogs produce glycerol that acts like antifreeze, letting part of their body freeze while protecting their cells until they thaw in spring.
Are gray tree frogs good climbers?
Yes. They have large, sticky toe pads that let them grip bark, leaves, and even smooth surfaces, making them excellent climbers that spend most of their lives in trees.
