Cuban Tree Frog – Osteopilus septentrionalis; (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)
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This Cuban Tree Frog is silver with water as his skin absorbs the first rain after a long drought.
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Photo by: Denise Bodden
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Cuban Tree Frog on Little Cayman
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Photo by: Pedrin Lopez
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| Cuban Tree Frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) mating on Cayman Brac after heavy rains on June 17, 2008. Though it is seen in a wide variety of colors to match it's environment - (brown, tan, white, green, gray and even orange), this bright yellow color is notable though reportedly not uncommon in some populations. It has been seen on both males and females in Florida. |
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"All the frogs leaped out as I approached this small, seasonal pond except for these two! ... a good percentage of the leapers seemed to be yellow. Some were small and some quite big. Maybe the yellow is a specialization developed here where it's so dry for so very, very many days and months of the year. These males have a very short time to find a partner!" Wallace Platts
Photo by: Wallace Platts
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Size: up to 5.5 inches SVL* – This is one of the largest tree frogs in the world and females are significantly bigger than males. This tree frog has large toe pads and granular skin that is extremely variable in colour and pattern consisting of varying shades of green, gray and brown. Vocalization is a raspy, low croak. Eggs are laid in water. Habitat is fresh water ponds for breeding, however, this frog is frequently found resting above ground in tree cavities and often on tree trunks and the undersides of leaves and under eaves on the sides of buildings, especially where some moisture is available such as near cisterns. Also called “bullfrogs,” they are active at night. They have some tolerance for brackish water, shows less endemicism and appears to have crossed saltwater barriers more easily than some other species. It feeds entirely on insects.
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| * Key: |
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| SVL |
Snout to Vent Length |
| TL |
Total Length (including tail)
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