Pine Barrens Treefrog
Dryophytes andersonii
The Pine Barrens Treefrog is a rare, bright green frog of acidic seepage bogs in four western Florida Panhandle counties.
Florida populations live in spring-fed seepage bogs within fire-maintained pine landscapes. The species needs clean acidic water, open bog vegetation, and stable groundwater flow.
Males call through spring and summer. Water-table changes, fire suppression, invasive plants, and habitat disturbance threaten breeding sites.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills
Area / Range:
Florida Panhandle
Diet:
Adults eat small insects and other invertebrates around bog vegetation.
Behavior:
Males call from low shrubs and vegetation near seepage pools from March into September. Adults move away from breeding water to forage.
Night, Dawn and Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm, humid nights from March through September in suitable western Panhandle bog habitat.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Rare in Florida and included in the state's Imperiled Species Management Plan. IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Do not handle frogs. Amphibian skin absorbs oils and chemicals, and handling can transmit disease between wetlands.
Benefits to Property:
They consume insects and signal clean water and healthy wetland function.
Property Concerns:
They cause no property damage. Draining wetlands, altering groundwater, applying pesticides, or suppressing natural fire harms their habitat.
Fun Fact:
A calling male's voice carries from tiny acidic bog pools that many fish cannot tolerate, reducing predation on tadpoles.
Wildlife Laws:
FWC states the Pine Barrens Treefrog is protected from take under Florida rules. Do not capture, collect, or disturb animals or breeding habitat.
Identification:
Look for a pea-green frog with a bold chocolate-brown stripe from the snout through the eye, a white belly, yellow or orange markings on the hidden legs, and round toe pads.
Credits:
Facts: authoritative species reference. Images: primary and secondary, Wikimedia Commons.