Pine woods tree frog

The pine woods tree frog (Dryophytes femoralis) is a species of frog in the family Hylidae, endemic to the southeastern United States.[1][2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hyla femoralis.

Pine woods tree frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Dryophytes
Species:
D. femoralis
Binomial name
Dryophytes femoralis
(Daudin, 1800)
Synonyms
  • Hyla femoralis Bosc, 1800

Description

Tadpole
Pinewoods tree frog tadpole with red tail induced by the presence of predators (dragonfly larvae).

Pine woods tree frogs lay eggs in ephemeral water bodies. Eggs generally hatch within 24 hours, and tadpoles metamorphose into baby froglets after 50–75 days at 11–15 mm in length.[3] Tadpoles are remarkably variable; similar to the squirrel tree frog (Dryophytes squirellus), the presence or absence of dragonfly larvae (a predator) induces a dramatic, red-colored tail.[4]

Like many amphibian species' tadpoles, those of the pinewoods tree frog are susceptible to parasitic infection by trematode flatworms. However, tadpoles swim in a manner that does not necessarily reduce the intensity of infection, but reduces the likelihood of these parasites infecting in the head and body region; instead, their swimming behavior shunts parasites to the tail area, where infection by parasites causes fewer harmful effects.[5]

Adult

The pine woods tree frog is a very small species, growing to a length of 25 to 38 mm (0.98 to 1.50 in). The color varies, sometimes being mottled brownish-gray, deep reddish-brown, gray, or grayish-green, usually with dark markings on its back. It is very similar in appearance to the squirrel tree frog but it can be distinguished from that species by the series of yellow, orange, or white dots that can be seen on the back of the thigh when the hind leg is extended. The toes have large toe pads but little webbing. Their distinctive call can be heard between April and October; it is a series of staccato sounds, giving it the nickname of "Morse code frog".[3][6]. D. femoralis is unique in that the advertisement signals of individuals are highly plastic.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The pine woods tree frog is found in the southeastern United States on the plains of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, its range extending from Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. It climbs high in trees, but also sometimes descends to ground level and favors pine woods, savannahs, mixed pine and turkey oak woodlands, and cypress swamps. During droughts or cold weather, it hides in or under rotten logs or in moist crevices in trees.[1][6]

Biology

The pine woods tree frog mainly eats insects. Breeding takes place at any time between March and October. The male calls, especially at dusk, from locations close to water, such as trees, bushes, and inside clumps of vegetation. The female lays 800 to 2,000 eggs in clusters of 100 eggs no more than 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) below the water, which may be a ditch or temporary pool.[8] The tadpoles are fully developed and ready to undergo metamorphosis at about two months old.[1][6] There is evidence that suggests they can produce a second clutch in the same reproductive season allowing for two sets of eggs.[9] Pine woods treefrog tadpoles may exhibit predator-induced phenotypic plasticity. Tadpoles exposed to predators develop deeper and shorter bodies and tails, smaller overall body size, and increased orange fin coloration and black tail outline. However, low food resources may inhibit the development of this induced morphology as it is energetically costly. [10]

Status

The pine woods tree frog is listed as being of "Least Concern" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its large population is believed to be stable, and it is common over much of its wide range.[1] Although this species is listed as least concern, respecting and protecting its habitat is still a priority. This idea is relevant because of the treefrog species, the pine woods tree frog is one of the most sensitive in terms of habitat change. Therefore, environmental changes significantly affect the ability of this species to remain successful. [11]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Dryophytes femoralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T55481A112713840. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T55481A112713840.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Hyla femoralis Daudin, 1800". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  3. "Pine Woods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis)". Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  4. "USGS Guide to Tadpoles". Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  5. Sears, Brittany F.; Snyder, P. W; Rohr, J. R. (2013). "Infection deflection: hosts control parasite location with behaviour to improve tolerance". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 280 (1762): 20130759. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.0759. PMC 3673061. PMID 23677349.
  6. "Pine Woods Treefrog – Hyla femoralis". The Frogs and Toads of Georgia. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  7. Anderson, Karen; Moler, Paul E. (1986-02-10). "Natural Hybrids of the Pine Barrens Treefrog, Hyla andersonii with H. cinerea and H. femoralis (Anura, Hylidae): Morphological and Chromosomal Evidence". Copeia. 1986 (1): 70. doi:10.2307/1444890. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1444890.
  8. "Virginia Herpetological Society". www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  9. Goldberg, S.R. (2021). "Notes on Reproduction of Pine Woods Treefrogs, Dryophytes femoralis (Anura: Hylidae), from Virginia". Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society. 56 (11): 200-202.
  10. LaFiandra, Emily May; Babbitt, Kimberly J. (2004-02-01). "Predator induced phenotypic plasticity in the pinewoods tree frog, Hyla femoralis: necessary cues and the cost of development". Oecologia. 138 (3): 350–359. Bibcode:2004Oecol.138..350L. doi:10.1007/s00442-003-1412-3. ISSN 1432-1939. PMID 14673637. S2CID 7818870.
  11. McCoy, E. D., Delis, P. R., & Mushinsky, H. R. (2021). The importance of determining species sensitivity to environmental change: a tree frog example. Ecosphere, 12(5), e03526.
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