Native Range Map
Barking Tree Frog
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Hyla
Species: gratiosa
Photo courtesy of Karen Marzynski
Habitat
• In the Wild: Barking tree frogs are found chiefly in the Coastal Plain, but also in many upland areas of
the United States. They live in pine forests and pine savannah habitats with sandy soils, as well as in
open, mixed woodlands, farmlands, pasture ponds, and Gopher Tortoise burrows.
• Exhibit Location: Zoo to You Collection
Characteristics
• This is a large tree frog, measuring 2 – 2 ¾ inches in length. It is stouter than other tree frogs.
• Its color ranges from green to yellowish, grayish, or dark brown. The skin is slightly bumpy, unlike the
smoother skin of most other tree frogs. They have large toe pads used to climb vertical surfaces, such as
tree trunks, walls, and even windows. They have a very obvious eardrum.
• Lifespan: In the Wild unknown ; In Captivity 12 ½ years is the record
Behaviors
• This species is nocturnal (active at night) and spends days resting in the trees. They play an important
role in pest control, feeding mainly on insects.
• When the weather is dry, the barking tree frog will burrow into soil and aestivate (lay inactive, but does
not hibernate) until conditions are more favorable.
• It has two calls. The first is a single, loud, explosive “doonk” or “toonk” repeated every 1-2 seconds.
The second is a treetop rain call that is a barking call of 9 or 10 raucous (hoarse sounding) syllables, often
called along with other tree frogs.
• Enrichments at the Zoo: bark and branches for climbing, artificial leaves for hiding, and moss for
burrowing
Reproduction
• Breeding occurs from March through October with a peak in late spring. Fertilization is external with the
female laying up to 2000 eggs in shallow water.
• Gestation is one week. Tadpoles can be up to 2 inches in length, which is the largest tadpole of any tree
frog in the United States. The transformation from tadpole to frog takes 6-10 weeks. Tadpoles and frogs
are independent of the parents and do not depend on them for any care nor feeding.
Diet
•
•
In the Wild: insects, worms, moths, grasshoppers, flies
At the Zoo: crickets
Conservation Status
• Barking tree frogs are generally common. However, they are declining in some areas due to wetland
destruction. They are considered “threatened” in Virginia and “in need of management” in Tennessee.
• To preserve this species, we must work to protect wetlands and pine woods.
• Predators: birds, mammals, reptiles, fish
BarkingTreeFrog.km
Edition Date – 10/19/2005
Researched and written by the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers
Did You Know?/Fun Facts
• Barking tree frogs are the largest native tree frog in the United States.
• Barking tree frogs are known to interbreed with green tree frogs.
• As with all amphibians, barking tree frogs should be handled as little as possible.
Sources:
• Georgia Museum of Natural History, (2000). Vertebrates: amphibians - frogs. Retrieved July 27, 2005,
from Georgia Museum of Natural History Web site: http://naturalhistory.uga.edu/.
• North Carolina Herpetological Society, (2005). Animal care sheets from the north carolina herpetological
society: barking treefrog. Retrieved Aug. 27, 2005, from North Carolina Herpetological Society Web site:
http://www.ncherps.org/home.htm.
• SREL Environmental Outreach Program, (2004). Barking treefrog. Retrieved Jul. 27, 2005, from The
University of Georgia Web site: http://www.uga.edu/srel/outreach.htm.
• U. S. Geological Survey, (2005). Cars-amphibian species descriptions: barking treefrog. Retrieved July
27, 2005, from USGS Science for a Changing World Web site:
http://cars.er.usgs.gov/herps/Frogs_and_Toads/H_gratiosa/h_gratiosa.html.
BarkingTreeFrog.km
Edition Date – 10/19/2005
Researched and written by the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers