The Green Treefrog is a widespread, conspicuous frog over much of the southeastern US. It seems that anywhere you can find permanent water with some vegetation in or around it, you will find Green Treefrogs.
In Texas, Green Treefrogs are found over most of the eastern 1/3 of the state up to the edge of the Edwards Plateau. They do occur south into southernmost Texas but they are not particularly common in the southern part of the state except around vegetated artificial ponds, etc.. (Map from the National Amphibian Atlas website)
You will notice a seemingly odd record for this species in far west Texas in Brewster County. This population appears to have been introduced and established in the ponds around the Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park.
Their preferred habitat seems to be rushes, cattails and other emergent plants at the waters edge, but they aren't restricted to such areas. These Green Treefrogs from near College Station, Texas were calling from a metal sign overhanging a flooded pond.
Their vocal sac is on their throat as is quite large.
The call of the Green Treefrog is a loud nasal "queehnk-queehnk-queehnk". It is sometimes described as "bell-like". The speed at which it is repeated depends on the temperature and number of frogs calling.
Here is an individual calling from a roadside pond in Fayette County, Texas. You can hear other Green Treefrogs as well as the clicks of Blanchard's Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi) in the background.
Here is a large group of Green Treefrogs calling from Hog Lake at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. When there are this many calling, it makes a cacophonous noise.
Here's a Green Treefrog calling from a tree trunk in Gonzales County, Texas. Notice how much air he breathes in an out with each call. No wonder they are so loud!
© Chris Harrison 2012 (updated 2016)
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