Cuban Treefrog - Osteopilus septentrionalis

Note: There is no known breeding population of this frog in Georgia, but three individuals have been found in Savannah. If you should find any of these frogs please let us know, it's considered a undesirable species. If you should suspect that you have one of these it would be ideal if you would capture, hold, and email digital photos of suspected Cuban treefrogs found in Georgia Only to John Jensen of the GA DNR.

Diagnostic Features:
- Size: The largest Treefrog in the United States, with females attaining lengths in excess of 5 inches (males are generally smaller).
- Color: color ranges from gray to green to brown
- Other:
  - large toe discs
  - warty skin
  - lacks any line, light or dark passing through or below the eye
  - skin on top of the head is fused to the skull
Natural History:
- Habitat:
  - Found in natural areas in parts of its introduced range, as well as retention ponds, drainage ditches and other areas associated with human habitation
- Behavior:
  - It is nocturnal.
  - Due to its large size it is able to eat other treefrogs, and may therefore be having an impact on other native species.
- Breeding:
  - Breeding season Spring/Summer.
Voice: Sonogram : Call (DeSoto County, Florida)
- a variably pitched, slightly rasping or grating snore. Also has quiet similar calls.
Tadpoles:
- Size: 26-32 mm
- Lateral eyes
- Rounded, heavily pigmented body with a transparent belly, making the intestinal coil visible
Range:
- It is an immigrant to the states, being first reported from Key West in 1931, though it probably arrived much earlier. It has since been expanding its range along the coasts of southern Florida.
- Two individuals have been found in Savannah, but a breeding population is not known. However, this non-native invasive has become established in Jacksonville, having quickly marched its way north through the Florida peninsula. It may eventually colonize parts of coastal and southern Georgia.
- In Light Blue: Williamson, Gerald K. & Moulis, Robert A., Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia, Special Publication No. 3, Savannah Science Museum, Inc. Savannah, Georgia, 1994
- In Green: Sound Recordings
- In Yellow: From Both '94 study and Sound Recordings
- In Magenta: Photograph, not found by '94, may or may not be sound record
- In Medium Blue: Photograph and in '94 study, may or may not be sound record
- In Orange: County Record by others
- In Red: US Distribution from various sources

May 25, 2008 - wwknapp@mindspring.com