# Cope's Gray Treefrog (*Hyla chrysoscelis*) Cope's Gray Treefrog is a small, green frog that loves to climb trees! They make a funny sound at night, which helps them find friends. They can change colors to blend in with their surroundings. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Cope's Gray Treefrog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hyla_chrysoscelis_UMFS_2016_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyla_chrysoscelis_UMFS_2016_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Cope's Gray Treefrog has bumpy, gray-green skin that can change color to match its surroundings. It features a distinct white spot under each eye and bright yellow or orange patches on its inner thighs, visible during jumps. Its large, prominent eyes are golden with a black pupil. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Hylidae - **Genus:** Dryophytes ## Interesting facts - Their super sticky tongue can snap out to catch a bug in a blink! - They gulp their eyeballs a little to help push food down their throat! - When they jump, bright yellow patches on their inner thighs flash, surprising predators! - You can identify them by their very fast, buzzy trilling call, unique among frogs! ## Special abilities - **Color Shifter:** Cope's Gray Treefrog can change its skin color from gray to green because of specialized cells that help them blend into trees and leaves. - **Sticky Climber:** Cope's Gray Treefrog has special sticky toe pads that help them cling to smooth surfaces and climb high into trees and shrubs. - **Freezing Survivor:** Cope's Gray Treefrog can survive their body temperature dropping below freezing because their cells make a natural 'antifreeze' to protect them! - **Bug Zapper Call:** Cope's Gray Treefrog makes a loud, buzzy trill sound that helps male frogs attract mates during the breeding season. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3.2-6 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-7 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1000-2000 - **Metamorphosis:** 45-60 days ## Diet & Feeding Cope's Gray Treefrogs love to snack on small insects and spiders they find in trees. - **Primary Foods:** Moths, Crickets, Spiders, Flies, Beetles, Slugs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — A common predator that ambushes frogs near water. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hunts from above, often catching frogs in open areas. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Feeds on flies and other small flying insects. - **Hunts:** [Fall Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fall-field-cricket) (*Gryllus pennsylvanicus*) — Preys on crickets hiding in vegetation or on the ground. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching frogs, and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cope's Gray Treefrog? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Cope's Gray Treefrog? 3.2-6 cm ### How much does Cope's Gray Treefrog weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Cope's Gray Treefrog live? 5-7 years ### How fast can Cope's Gray Treefrog move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Cope's Gray Treefrog eat? Cope's Gray Treefrogs love to snack on small insects and spiders they find in trees. ### Where is Cope's Gray Treefrog usually found? Forests ### How does Cope's Gray Treefrog hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Central Shelby Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-shelby-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District - [Convent and Academy of the Visitation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/convent-and-academy-of-the-visitation) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Gadsden Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gadsden-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Isaac Franklin Plantation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/isaac-franklin-plantation) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Cope's Gray Treefrog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/copes-gray-treefrog) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Cope's Gray Treefrog: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/copes-gray-treefrog)