Hylidae 



THE FLORIDA TREE FROG 

 Hyla gratiosa Le Conte 



Identification Characteristics 



Colour: Green or brown of various shades, usually with all 

 upper surfaces distinctly spotted. Sometimes unspotted bright 

 yellow-green. Spots many, more or less rounded, either large or 

 small. Spots may be brown or green of even shade, or light green 

 or brown encircled with darker colour. Legs and arms irregularly 

 banded with dark. Pin spots of bright yellow irregularly 

 placed on the larger spots or between them. Ear brown. Eye 

 bright reddish bronze. Jaw dark, bordered above by white or 

 yellow. (Fig. 147.) This light colour may be continued to the 

 shoulder and sometimes beyond. White or yellow bordered by 

 purplish brown on posterior margin of arm and hand and along 

 posterior edge of foot. Sides may be reticulated with bright 

 yellow. Throat may be purplish brown (female) or bright yellow 

 or green (male). Underparts light, yellowish. (Fig. 147.) For 

 colouration, see Colour Plate X. 



Measurements: Large for a tree frog, i.e. Length 2 to 2^ 

 inches. Head short; | inch in a frog 2\ inches long. Width 

 between eyes greater than width of eyelid. Ear one-half to two- 

 thirds the diameter of the eye. (Fig. 1 50.) Legs relatively short; 

 leg to heel equals length of body forward to eye. Tibia shorter 

 than femur. (Fig. 149.) 



Structure: Skin thick and leathery, granulated over the whole 

 upper surface as well as on the lower. (Figs. 148 and 149.) Head 

 unusually thick through (Fig. 1 53), very short and obtuse anterior 

 to the eyes. A fold of skin over the ear from eye to shoulder (Fig. 

 150); another fold across the breast and one at the base of the 

 throat. (Fig. 147.) Ear round. Hand large; disks on fingers 

 unusually large. Outer fingers slightly webbed. Foot webbed 

 half length of fourth toe. Inner sole tubercle prominent. (Fig. 

 147.) There is a tarsal fold. 



Range: Reported from Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi only.* 



Unfortunately, this tree frog has an unusually limited range. 



1 Riccborough, Ga.; Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Green Cove Springs, Tarpon Springs, Micanopy 

 St. Augustine, Orlando, and Georgiana, Fla. 



124 



