
Discover the Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor), a master of camouflage. Except in this photo, it's hardly hiding!
Nature’s Stealth Expert
The Gray Treefrog is a medium-sized amphibian, typically reaching lengths of up to 6 centimeters. One of its most striking features is its remarkable ability to change color, adapting from bright green to various shades of gray or brown to seamlessly blend with its environment, whether it’s tree bark or vibrant foliage.
Their skin possesses a distinctive rough, “warty” texture. Complementing this, they are equipped with large, sticky toe pads that allow them to climb trees and other vertical surfaces with exceptional agility. A key identifying feature, often visible when the frog moves, is the bright yellow-orange coloration found on the underside of their thighs.
As nocturnal predators, Gray Treefrogs are active hunters under the cover of darkness. Their diet consists of a variety of insects and other invertebrates, including beetles, ants, crickets, moths, spiders, and even small snails or other minor amphibians. Preying on these organisms, they play a vital role in local ecosystems by helping to regulate insect populations.