Pine Woods Tree Frog (Hyla femoralis)

Common Name: Pine Woods Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Hyla femoralis
Family: Hylidae – Tree Frog family
Locations: United States – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia
Size: 1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)

The Pine Woods Tree Frog can be found in pine forests hence their name but they can also be found in flatwoods and cypress marshes. They are often mistaken for Gray Tree Frogs or Bird Voiced Tree Frogs but can be differentiated due to the yellow, orange, or white spots on their inner thighs. The frog ranges in color from gray, green, and brown.

Breeding takes place between March to October depending on location. The frogs come down from the trees to ponds and pools. The males start to call to attract a mate. The frog has been nicknamed the Morse Code Frog due to their call. Once the female selects a mate, the male will grasp the female from behind in amplexus. The female will then lay her eggs and the male will fertilize them. The female lays between 800 to 2,000 eggs. Eggs hatch in generally a day and the tadpoles complete their metamorphosis in 50 – 75 days. Neither parent provides any care for their offspring.