12/27/2022 0 Comments 4399 pepper tree rd![]() This pigment, known as flash coloration, is thought to startle and confuse predators, and/or perhaps warn them of the frog’s secret weapon. But oh, what a color it is! On the inside of its hind legs, the Cope’s sports a showy splash of yellow or orange. The undercarriage, by contrast, stays relatively constant in color. These color changes occur on the dorsal surface-the part we would consider the top, or back, of the frog. This special talent allows the frog to blend in among the gray lichens on tree bark, as well as amid the greenery of our woodland understory plants. When it’s warm or light is bright, the skin appears green. When temperatures are cooler or light is subdued, the cells expand and the frog adopts a darker coloration. Thanks to an ability to change the shape of the pigment cells in its skin, the Cope’s can transform from gray to green and back again. But you know what? This little guy frequently is not. Maybe it’s the “gray” part of the name that puts people off. (Female Cope’s, at which the call is directed, are another matter entirely.) And its call, produced by males in spring, is described as a “harsh trill”-not exactly the sort of quality that fosters close bonds, at least among humans. Its skin is bumpy and vaguely reminiscent of “warts,” causing some folks to call this frog a tree “toad”-which it is not. A member of an order that includes some very large (as in bullfrogs) and very small (as in spring peepers) specimens, the Cope’s is neither. Somehow though, despite some fairly remarkable qualities, this delightfully pudgy froggy is not very well known. But this little Hyla is one of a select few that are most nearest and dearest to my heart. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love them all. ![]() ![]() Meet Hyla chrysoscelis, the Cope’s gray treefrog.Īs the Kane County coordinator for the regional Calling Frog Survey, I get to see, and hear, a lot of frogs. So today, dear readers, in the spirit of trying to not offend, disgust or otherwise repulse anyone, anywhere, I’d like to introduce you to one of the cutest, most adorable, yet also easily overlooked, member of our local fauna. The message is loud and clear: Write about something cute and adorable, or else… And I really had no idea that anyone would write to tell me of these feelings.īut emails don’t lie-well, at least these kinds don’t. ![]() Little did I realize that the word maggot could actually make people’s stomachs turn, or that certain individuals would find the word larva (which is really just another, less specific term for maggot) equally appalling. Years ago I didn’t know, for instance, that the word fungus made some folks uncomfortable. The things you learn when you write a nature column. Good Natured: Grey Tree Frogs July 31, 2020 Cute, pudgy and winsomely appealing, the Cope’s gray tree frog can be found in select habitats throughout Kane County. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |