Description: Hyla andersonii, only about 1 to 3 inches long, is one of the smaller species of tree frogs. Members of the species are predominantly green, with wide, dark stripes. They often have spotted, orange-gold markings on the hidden surfaces of their legs and tend to have large toe pads.

The key to distinguishing the Pine Barrens tree frog from the similar-appearing American green tree frog (D. cinerea) is the white-bordered lavender stripe on each side of the body in the Pine Barrens tree frog. D. cinerea has only a white stripe in this location.

Habitat: Hyla andersonii is most commonly found in brushy areas, often near peat bogs or shallow ponds. They usually inhabit areas carpeted with thick moss. Adults are terrestrial, but tend to reside near water sources. Unlike most frogs, they are tolerant of low pH levels, and often lay eggs in shallow, acidic ponds. The ideal pH level for D. andersonii eggs is between 3.8 and 5.9.

Range: Due to the limited extent of suitable habitats, Hyla andersonii is currently distributed in three disjunct areas in the southeastern United States: the New Jersey Pine Barrens; the Sandhills of North and South Carolina; and the Florida panhandle and southern Alabama. Although one specimen of D. andersonii is known from Georgia, a population is not known to currently exist there.

Found in these States: AL | FL | NC | NJ | SC

Diet: Small insects, such as ants and beetles, are their primary food source as adults.

Reproduction: The breeding season in North Carolina appears to be protracted, with choruses heard from April through August. Vocalization occurs between mid-April and early September in South Carolina, being most consistent from May through July. Choruses begin at dusk, with periodic choruses of short duration occurring after dark. Locations are generally represented by only a few calling males.

In New Jersey, males called nightly beginning in May and early June. In July, males called only infrequently and only after rainstorms. Nightly calling ceased by August. Egg laying in New Jersey occurs from late April to mid-July. It is uncertain as to whether late clutches represent late breeding subpopulation or are additional clutches deposited by adults that bred earlier.

In Florida, males called from April to September and larvae were found from mid-June to early September. Calling activity was strongly correlated with humidity and thundershower activity and no males were heard calling on dry nights, especially after several dry days. Amplexed pairs were observed in mid-June and mid-July. Larvae were found in the field from mid-June through August, but probably occur earlier in May and later into September.

Females oviposit 800 to 900 eggs. It was found that a clutch of 206 eggs from one female hatched in 72 hours at 25 C. In the field, larvae metamorphose by the end of summer.

Status: Hyla andersonii was listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service between 1977 and 1983, when additional populations were found in Florida. The IUCN has classified it as Near Threatened as of 1996. The Pine Barrens tree frog is currently listed as Threatened in the state of New Jersey.

Subspecies: None

Taxonomy: