The largest US treefrog at 2.5 inches, with a distinctive doglike "bark" call that can be heard up to a mile away. They climb high in trees and only come down to breed in ephemeral pools.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Dryophytes gratiosus, commonly known as the barking tree frog, is a species of tree frog endemic to the south-eastern United States. Formerly known as Hyla gratiosa.
Source: Wikipedia — Dryophytes gratiosus Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Green to gray-green frog with rough skin and dark blotches; large adhesive toe pads.
Similar species. Gray Tree Frog (smaller, more uniformly gray). Green Tree Frog (smaller, more uniform).
Voice. Loud "tonk" or barking call; chorus of dozens echoes far on rainy nights.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, spiders, occasionally small frogs.
Behavior. Largest tree frog in North America. Breeds in shallow temporary ponds; tadpoles develop fast (3–4 weeks).
§ Range
Southeastern US Coastal Plain
§ Habitat
Cypress swamps, sandhill ponds, longleaf pine wetlands
§ Threats
Loss of cypress-pond habitat, fire suppression in longleaf pine systems, pesticide drift from agriculture.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the barking treefrog is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support fire-managed pine restoration. Maintain ephemeral wetland buffers. Plant native trees instead of monoculture pine plantations.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Dryophytes gratiosus
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Hyla gratiosa
- IUCN Red List · taxon 55404
- iNaturalist · taxon 25534
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Hyla gratiosa
§ Sources cited
- USGS ARMI
- AmphibiaWeb
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2014
