Osteopilus
septentrionalis - Cuban
Tree Frog
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This Cuban
Tree Frog's body is about 4"
long and 2" wide. Click image to
hear its call. |
NON-NATIVE
DESTRUCTIVE INVASIVE
The
Cuban Tree Frog is the largest
non-native tree frog in North
America (1.5 to 5" in body length).
This frog was introduced to southern
Florida from the Caribbean and is
spreading throughout the state (from
as far north as Cedar Key on the
Gulf Coast, Jacksonville on the
Atlantic Coast, and the Orlando area
in mid-Florida).
Identification
Cuban
Tree Frogs can be highly variable in
color -- from pale tan/pale green
without any markings to dark green
or brown with an even darker color
pattern on the back and legs.
Sometimes they almost look white
when they are inactive or cold.
Cuban Tree Frogs can be up to 5" in
length -- larger than native Florida
tree frogs. Cuban Tree Frogs are
also easy to identify by their
enormous toe pads, bumpy back skin
(like the skin of toads) and the
fused skin on top of their heads (if
you try to wiggle the skin on their
foreheads it will not move like it
does on other frogs).
Cuban
Tree Frogs prefer places that are moist
and shady -- in trees, shrubs or around
houses behind shutters and lights. They
are commonly found near ornamental fish
ponds and well-lit patios.
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Cuban
Tree Frog. Note the large
toe pads and bumpy skin on
back. |
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Food
Habits
Cuban
Tree Frogs will eat almost anything
smaller than them that moves --
including Florida's native frogs,
toads, lizards, snakes and other
Cuban Tree Frogs (they are
cannibals), in
addition to insects and spiders.
They usually hunt at night and
congregate around lighted areas
where they pounce on and eat
anything they think they can
swallow.
Cuban
Tree Frogs are considered an
invasive exotic (non-native) species
that threaten the biodiversity of
Florida's native ecosystems and
wildlife.
Reproduction
Cuban
Tree Frogs breed from May to
October. The
call of the Cuban Tree Frog is
variably pitched and slightly
rasping. Male frogs call in hopes of
attracting females. Cuban Tree
Frogs lay eggs in any body of
standing water -- from a small
bucket to a fish pond, even in
chlorinated swimming pools. |
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Predators
Several
species of native snakes will eat
Cuban Tree Frogs, including rat
snakes, Black Racers, Pygmy
Rattlesnakes and Garter Snakes.
Owls, crows and wading birds also
eat Cuban Tree Frogs.
Cuban
Tree Frogs can be quit annoying to
humans when large congregations of them
begin calling, when they creep into
peoples' homes and when they leap and
land on you unexpectedly in the dark (as
they are large, have some weight to them
and are cold and slimy -- the person who
is leapt upon often breaks out in fits
and screams in terror -- if you have had
one of these frogs attack you, you know
what I mean, it is not pleasant).
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From the UF Extension Service:
"Due
to the destructive effects Cuban
treefrogs have on native species
of amphibians and reptiles, many
biologists recommend that Cuban
treefrogs be euthanized/killed.
That's harsh, but true. We
recommend a humane method of
euthanasia for amphibians. Just
make SURE the frog you have is a
Cuban treefrog before
euthanizing it (see the test
suggested below).
A humane method for euthanizing
amphibians:
To euthanize a Cuban Treefrog,
hold the frog firmly in your
hand and apply a 1 inch bead of
benzocaine ointment along the
back of the frog. Benzocaine
ointment is a topical anesthetic
(a numbing agent) used to treat
skin pain (e.g., from sunburn)
and itching as well as
toothaches and sore throats.
There are a variety of name
brand and generic versions that
are available over-the-counter
in a tube or spray. If you are
able to, using a gloved finger
spread the ointment out on the
frog's back. Alternatively, you
could use a benzocaine spray.
Once the ointment or spray is
applied, place the frog in a
plastic grocery bag or a
sealable sandwich bag for 15-20
minutes so that the benzocaine
has a chance to render the frog
unconscious (be sure to seal the
bag or tie it closed). After the
bezocaine has anesthetized the
frog, place the bag in a freezer
overnight to ensure that the
frog is dead and then throw it
out in your trash. If you are
unable to apply benzocaine to
the frog, you can simply put it
in a plastic bag, seal or tie
the bag shut, then place it in
the freezer overnight--dispose
of the bag and the frog in the
trash the next day. Do not throw
a bagged frog into the trash
without euthanizing it first.
Remember, Cuban Treefrogs have a
noxious skin secretion so be
sure to wash your hands
thoroughly after you handle the
frog, even if you wear gloves or
use a plastic bag.
Freezing is a humane way to kill
amphibians because their bodies
go into a state of torpor
(metabolism slows way down) --
just as they do in cold weather
outside. If the cold weather is
short in duration, the frogs
will come out of their torpor
state. However, after an
extended time in freezing
temperatures, the frogs die.
A
good test to determine if a frog
is a Cuban treefrog is to grasp
the frog firmly, but gently, and
try to move the skin around on
the top of the frog's head with
your fingertip. The skin on the
head of a Cuban treefrog is
fused to the top of the skull
and won't move.
Be sure to wash your hands after
handling any frog or toad. They
all secrete a slimy film to
protect their skin, but the
secretions of some species, like
the Cuban treefrog, can irritate
the skin and eyes of some
people."
SOURCE:
The Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus
septentrionalis) in Florida,
Steve A. Johnson |
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