Osteopilus septentrionalis Photo Chris Burney ©
As its name suggests, this treefrog is not native to Florida. It was introduced accidentally, probably via ships traveling between the US and Caribbean ports. These frogs have spread as far north as southern Georgia, hitchhiking on nursery plants. Cuban treefrogs are collected in large numbers for the North American pet trade.
Cuban treefrogs are the largest treefrog found in North America. Females can grow to 14 cm (5.5 in); males are generally smaller. They are a mottled gray-green, but can change color — anywhere from white to dark brown — depending on their surroundings. Their feet have large, conspicuous sticky toe pads, which allow them to cling to almost any surface.
They are nocturnal and feed on almost anything, including insects, small lizards, other frogs and even hatchling birds. The Cuban treefrog’s call sounds like a raspy human snore or a small dog barking.
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