Herpetofauna - One Life's List

Gray Treefrog
Hyla versicolor | Hyla chrysocelis

Union Co., Illinois. May 1986. (versicolor)
Rockingham, North Carolina. May 23, 1998. (chrysocelis)
 

Hyla versicolor


Hyla chrysocelis
 

 Identical in every way but two, these frogs are.  One difference is buried deep within the cell - versicolor has twice as many chromosomes as chrysocelis.  The other difference can be known at night, when the frogs call; versicolor's call is a slow staccato trill, while chrysocelis' call is a fast staccato trill.  That is it.

A frog that spends much of the time up in trees and bushes over or near water, coming down at night for water and insects.  They can be common in areas without being seen much by humans.  The colors and patterns they show vary, but are usually a mimic of bark. The males show a yellow flash mark in the 'pit' of the hind leg (see top photo).  Down in southern Illinois,  the roads can be covered by calling males during the May rains.

Another underappreciated North American frog.

 
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