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AmphibianTerrestrialEasy
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes versicolor
The North American master of camouflage. Possesses the chameleonic ability to shift from moss green to ash gray. Features bright yellow/orange flash marks hidden on the inner thighs.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Hylidae
Subfamily:Hylinae
Genus:Dryophytes
Species:Dryophytes versicolor
Formerly known as:Hyla versicolor
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 21 °C
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widespread across deciduous forests, wooded swamps, and suburban areas of eastern and central North America (eastern US and southern Canada). They are arboreal and highly cold-tolerant, capable of surviving sub-zero winter temperatures by producing glycerol.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A stocky, robust tree frog reaching 4–5 cm in length, with large adhesive toe pads. Possesses rough, warty skin with chameleonic color-changing abilities, ranging from mottled ash-gray to lichen-green or brown. The inner thighs feature bright yellow-to-orange flash coloration.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. During the day, they sleep camouflaged against tree bark. In spring and summer, males call from elevated branches near breeding pools, emitting a clear, musical trill.
Morphology: Females are larger and rounder. Males are slightly smaller and feature a dark grey-to-black throat area due to the presence of the inflatable vocal sac.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A vertical enclosure (minimum 45x45x60 cm) is recommended. Provide rough-textured climbing branches, cork bark tubes, and dense foliage (such as Pothos). A wide, shallow water dish with dechlorinated water is essential.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 22–25°C. High heat above 28°C must be avoided. Nighttime temperatures should drop to 16–20°C. A cold winter brumation period is highly recommended. Provide a low-output (5%) UVB source.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity of 60–80%. Mist the enclosure thoroughly with dechlorinated water every evening. Ensure good ventilation to prevent stagnant air, which can lead to skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Highly voracious insectivores. Feed live crickets, moths, and small roaches. Supplement food with calcium and D3 three times a week to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Compatibility: Completely peaceful and gregarious with similar-sized tree frogs. Never house with small cohabitants, as they will be eaten.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to soaps and skin oils; handle only when necessary with wet, clean hands or vinyl gloves. Panicking can cause snout-rubbing injuries on glass. Stagnant conditions can lead to fatal bacterial red leg syndrome.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widespread across deciduous forests, wooded swamps, and suburban areas of eastern and central North America (eastern US and southern Canada). They are arboreal and highly cold-tolerant, capable of surviving sub-zero winter temperatures by producing glycerol.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsExtra-Amazon South AmericaNorth America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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