Cuban TreefrogOsteopilus septentrionalis

The Cuban Treefrog  (Osteopilus septentrionalis) is native to Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.   It is also introduced into Florida and certain islands of Hawaii.  There have been records of this species in southern Texas but they don't appear to have become established there yet.

The Cuban Treefrog is the largest species of treefrog in the state of Florida.  It is spreading northward from South Florida and has now been documented from Georgia and some other southeastern states.

Here is its documented range within Florida -

These frogs appear to spread through the transport of man made materials, potted plants, building materials etc.   They are common commensals in south Florida and are found in and around houses throughout the southern 2/3 of the state.

Unfortunately, these large treefrogs represent a significant threat where they are introduced into the US because they readily eat our smaller native treefrogs  (Green, Squirrel, Cope's Gray, Bird-voiced Treefrogs, etc).   In an effort to combat this loss of native frogs, the state of Florida is now actively encouraging Florida residents to remove any Cuban Treefrogs they find in/around their homes to prevent the loss of native species.  The following page give instructions on identification and human methods of euthanizing them - http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/cuban_treefrog_inFL.shtml.

Cuban Treefrogs vary tremendously in appearance, not only in color but also pattern.  They can be greenish or brownish, with or without a mottled darker pattern of green or brown.  At 5 inches in length, they are almost twice the size of most of the native treefrogs.  They tend to have "wartier" skin than native treefrogs and this thicker drier skin makes them very resistant to dessication.

The call of the Cuban Treefrog is surprisingly quiet and unimpressive considering the size of the adult frogs.  It has been described as a grating "craack" or even a rattling chirp.

Here is a recording of the "craack" calls of Cuban Treefrogs near the Everglades National Park.  (You also hear the loud nasal "maaah" of the Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad)

Here is a short video of a Cuban Treefrog calling from a flooded roadside near the Everglades National Park.  Unfortunately, the sound isn't very clear and you hear the calls of the frog in the video along with another Cuban Treefrog plus a loud chorus of Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toads and some Squirrel Treefrogs.

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© Chris Harrison 2018