Description
Cope's Gray Treefrog looks identical to the Gray Treefrog.
The two species can only be distinguished from each other by their calls.
They have rough, green, brown or gray skin with large darker blotches on
the back. Like many treefrogs, they have large toe-pads. The two species
can be distinguished from other frogs by the dark-edged light spot
under the eyes and by bright yellow- orange colouration under the thighs.
Adults may reach 6 cm.
Call
The call of Cope's Gray Treefrog is a faster, higher
pitched trill than the Gray Treefrog. It is similar to that of the American Toad but is much shorter. It has
more trill than that of a Wood Frog.
Confusing Species
Other treefrogs found in their range are the Spring
Peeper, Boreal Chorus Frog, Western
Chorus Frog and the Northern Cricket Frog.
The Spring Peeper has a large, dark X on its back while the Chorus Frogs
have three stripes down the back. The Northern Cricket Frog, limited only
to Pelee Island in southern Ontario, has a dark triangle between the eyes
and less distinct markings on the back than the other three species.
Distribution
In Canada, Cope's Gray Treefrog is found only in southeastern
Manitoba and one site in extreme western Ontario where it was recently discovered.
The Gray Treefrog overlaps that range and is found in southern Ontario,
Quebec and New Brunswick as well. It is also found in the eastern half
of the United States as far south as northern Florida and Texas.
Habitat
These treefrogs may be found on trees and shrubs near permanent
water. They prefer mature or second growth woodlands although they may
also inhabit orchards. They are rarely seen outside the breeding season.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs in late spring and early summer. During the
day they remain in trees around the breeding pond. In the evening, males
call from trees and shrubs but enter the pond after finding a mate. Up
to 2000 eggs are laid in small clusters of 10-40 attached to vegetation.
Eggs hatch within five days and tadpoles metamorphose 40 - 60 days after
hatching.
Natural history
The Gray Treefrog is a tetraploid form of Cope's Gray Treefrog,
which is to say that it is genetically the same but has four copies of
each chromosome instead of the usual two copies. Cope's Gray Treefrog is a
true tree frog; it can be found at the top of even the tallest trees. They overwinter under leaf litter and snow cover and can survive being
frozen solid. Cope's Gray Treefrogs are sometimes found on the walls outside a
building where there is a light that attracts insects. Like some other
treefrogs it is freeze tolerant.
Conservation Concerns
Neither species is believed to be declining.
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