Can you help me ID my frogs?

[slewis87]

Hi, I registered to see if someone could help ID my frogs. I caught them as tadpoles out of our pond in central Ohio.

[John]

They're Gray Tree Frogs (the youngsters like to stay green most of the time but they can change to any color they want). Depending on where you live in central Ohio, it could be Hyla versicolor or H. chrysoscelis. They are identical in appearance and can't be told apart without hearing their call or carrying out genetic analysis on them. Read about how to take care of them here: Frog Forum - Gray Tree Frog Care and Breeding

[slewis87]

Thanks so much, John! I was doing it all wrong lol. I still had them in a tank of water. I drained the water and need to get some soil and other things now. Thanks again

[froggymatt]

Hyla versicolor or H. chrysoscelis....more likely versicolor.....i live in florida and we get greys like roaches and have yet to see a versicolor here...more chrysosclelis.

[Lacibeth]

Hyla versicolor or H. chrysoscelis....more likely versicolor.....i live in florida and we get greys like roaches and have yet to see a versicolor here...more chrysosclelis.

Can you explain how you're differentiating between H. versicolor and H. chrysoscelis?

I've been working with a couple herpetologists distinguishing between H.v and H.c and as to which we have in Nebraska. (Actually, I'm betting Terry knows these guys). My understanding was that H.c was much more common from the Great Plains south and east down into the FL panhandle, but that H.v actually has a more northern distribution and of course a ton of overlap between the two. Amphibiaweb actually has a really nice distribution map. AmphibiaWeb

[John]

You can't distinguish them by appearance. The only way to do it without genetic studies is by call, and most people have a hard time distinguishing the calls.