Posted by Dora Hook on August 22, 2005

Q: My son found a frog and thinks it a tree frog . I disagree but Iam totally not sure what kind it is.It two-tone green and wet to the touch. Please help my son is only 6 I would hate to steer him in the wrong direction he so loves the outdoors and all the little creatures. Thanks Dora

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Pennsylvania

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: Pennsylvania has only one species of tree frog, the Gray Tree Frog, so it sounds like your son has found a different kind of frog. Have your son look closely at the toes of his frog to see if there are toe pads (little round adhesive pads) there - tree frogs have these. My guess is that your son has found a Leopard Frog. On September 5 we'll be putting up a unit on Leopard Frogs and your son can see if it looks similar. If you can get a field guide to reptiles and amphibians, your son will have hours and hours of fun looking at the pictures and learning about these fascinating animals. My best to you both and thanks for your question.

John Wiessinger ( August 23, 2005)

A: Whoops, wanted to be clear about the "one species of tree frog in PA". Although the Spring Peeper (common in Pennsylvania) has been widely accepted as a "tree frog" in the past, current thinking is that it is NOT. So, only one species of tree frog in PA as I stated earlier.

John Wiessinger ( August 23, 2005)

A: I suspect your son may have found a Green Frog. Green Frogs are abundant throughout the Northeast, and have dark green or brown backs, usually with bright (almost emerald) green on the front of the head below the eye.

Take a look at these images I have on line:

Green Frog: vernalpools.rtpi.org

Gray Tree Frog: vernalpools.rtpi.org

Solon Morse ( August 23, 2005)