Squirrel tree frog

As a tadpole, the squirrel tree frog is preyed upon by dragonfly nymphs, giant water bugs, predatory fish and newts. Once the tadpoles metamorphose, the predators of the frogs change to small mammals, other frogs, snakes, birds. However, they do not appear to reduce activity within this cover. It has been suggested that the drying of the ponds is a more significant threat to the frogs than predation. As adults, they use their diminutive size and color-changing ability to avoid predation. Males may also conceal their lateral stripe with their fore- and hindlimbs when in daytime retreats or in water conservation posture to reduce detection. When not feeding, the frog reduces activity and hides in a retreat; frogs feed within 28 meters of this retreat site. == Diet ==

The tadpoles are suspension feeders that scrape organic and inorganic matter from rocks, plants and log substrates. Adult squirrel tree frogs are very aggressive predators on insects and other invertebrates. They have been observed visiting porch lights in the evening to catch the bugs drawn in by the lights and circling piles of fresh cow-dung to devour the midges that were attracted to the cow-dung. They have also been observed to see prey in ambient light (6 × 10−5 to 1 × 10−3 lx), when normally they are active during the night (10−6 to 10−1 lx). An examination of tree frog stomachs found that nine were empty; four contained beetles; two contained only plant debris; and the rest contained a mixture of crayfish, spiders, crickets, and ants. Tree frogs' eating habits are affected by geographic location, weather, and developmental stage. Additionally, the recent feeding history of male frogs may influence the pigmentation of males' yellow lateral body stripes, but the exact mechanism controlling stripe size or saturation is still unknown. == Distribution and reproduction ==

Squirrel tree frogs are found in the southeastern United States, from Virginia to Eastern Texas to the Florida Keys. The species is prominent throughout the Coastal Plain regions of South Carolina and Georgia. They have recently been introduced to the Bahamas, on Grand Bahama Island and Little Bahama Bank. They very rarely are found as far north as Mississippi. They occupy a wide range of habitats including fields; urbanized areas; swamps; pine and oak groves; opened wooded areas; the sides of buildings and almost anywhere that food, moisture and shelter can be found. They return to wetlands to breed, typically in locations such as ephemeral pools, roadside ditches or canopy pools where they are safe from predatory fish. Breeding is tied strongly to rain events. The females are oviparous, and the eggs are laid singly or in pairs, typically less than or equal to one thousand in number. Males have a special breeding call that can be heard from March to August, even extending into autumn in some parts of the country. Females have been found to prefer medium or low-frequency calls, as well as for faster, more energetically costly call rates. Visual information, such as a large stripe, have also been found to play a role in mate selection by these nocturnal frogs. == Conservation ==

Squirrel tree frogs are active foragers, even when insect predators are present. They can be found in both open- and heavily-forested wetlands, but they have higher rates of survival in bodies of water with a higher density vegetation. Due to their high levels of activity, squirrel tree frogs tadpoles are vulnerable to predation by multiple species of fish, and the adults are vulnerable to predation by the non-native Cuban tree frog. Additionally, in areas where predation rates are relatively high, females may utilize visual cues to quickly localize males, but the costs of visual signaling as compared to acoustic signaling need to be explored further. When they are reared alongside Cuban tree frogs, squirrel tree frogs have a lower survival rate than when they are reared alone; however, the Cuban tree frog does not appear to be a threat to the squirrel tree frog tadpoles. Although there are few concerns about its conservation status, the squirrel tree frog reproductive cycle could be impacted by climate change. Climate change is leading to long periods of hydrological drought and declining the number of ephemeral wetlands that these frogs rely on for breeding. == Gallery ==

Hyla squirella1.jpg|USGS photograph Hyla squirella.jpg|A juvenile Squirrel Tree frog on Tree.JPG|Squirrel tree frog on tree in Osceola National Forest, Florida Tree frog Fern Forest.jpg|At the Fern Forest nature center in Coconut Creek Florida == References ==