Gray Tree Frog Habitat

The gray tree frog lives in an arboreal habitat.

The gray tree frog is a large arboreal frog that is native to much of North America. As the name implies, it is usually gray in color with thick bands of darker gray coloration across its body; however some gray tree frogs are a dull green with bright yellow coloration on the undersides of their thighs. The gray tree frog has a distinctive and rapid chirping call and is enjoyed by many as a docile pet.

General Habitat

The gray tree frog is found in the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. The gray tree frog is extremely adaptable, which makes it common to find it in odd habitats like suburban backyard ponds. It generally chooses a habitat near wetlands, streams, rivers or lakes where it has access to leaf litter, rocks or the burrows of small mammals. It is arboreal, meaning it spends a lot of time in trees even using these trees to hide in during the winter months. The gray tree frog's habitat must contain water for at least part of the year, as it uses these bodies of water to mate and lay eggs. The habitat must also have plenty of submerged vegetation for the gray tree frog to hide in.

Cope's Gray Tree Frog Habitat

The Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) is a very closely-related species to the gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor). Usually the only way to determine which species a gray tree frog may be is to listen to their calls, which differ slightly. Both frogs look very similar and share the same natural range. The Cope's gray tree frog is more common in woodland habitats, while the gray tree frog is found in a larger variety of habitats.

European Gray Tree Frog Habitat

The European gray tree frog can be any one of four species of the Hyla genus that are found across Europe. These include the common tree frog and the Mediterranean tree frog. These European frogs have a very different habitat than their North American counterparts, living on the edges of forests and spending a lot of their time in bushy areas, meadows and scrubland habitats. The Mediterranean tree frog is much more common than the European tree frog, and is found in many suburban areas like gardens, ponds and backyards.

Adaptability

The North American gray tree frog is extremely adaptable to different habitats. For example, it can tolerate more acidic water and a very wide range of temperatures, allowing it more choice in habitats than other reptiles and amphibians.

Captive Habitat

Because the gray tree frog requires an arboreal habitat, its captive habitat should be taller rather than wide. Gray tree frogs should generally be kept at room temperature, not dropping below 68 F. A low-watt light bulb can be placed over one end of the habitat for additional warmth if necessary.

A substrate that holds moisture is beneficial to the frog and increases the humidity in the habitat. These can include coconut fiber, peat moss, live mosses or even paper towel. Substrates with small hard pieces like aquarium gravel should not be used, because the frog may eat it and choke.

Use branches and tall items in the habitat so that the gray tree frog can climb. Plants, either live or artificial, are also important to give the frog a place to hide and a sense of security, and a water dish large enough for the frog to soak in will also help replicate their natural habitat.

References

• University of Guelph: Grey Treefrog
• Amphibian Care: Gray Tree Frogs
• All About Frogs: Gray Tree Frog
• Aquatic Community: Gray Tree Frog
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: The Gray Tree Frog