Cryogenic Critter

 Member of the local frog chorale, adept climber of vertical surfaces and personal friend.  

click on image for a closer look

 

Meet Hyla versicolor - the gray tree frog.  

This amphibian sports a number of chameleon-like qualities allowing it to change in coloration in seconds from green to gray with darker mottling or a solid color.  This wonder of camouflage allows the frog to blend-in with tree bark and foliage. Field marks for this frog include a white spot below each eye, white belly and bright yellow-orange skin beneath its thighs.    

The gray tree frog is nocturnal – foraging in the evening for insects and other bugs and resting during the day in cover.  I found this guy hanging out on the shady side of the house.  Yes, on the siding.  The toe pads are pronounced and produce a sticky substance allowing this critter to cling to various surfaces.  

While the breeding season is presently in full swing - this species will sing beyond the breeding season, especially on warm, rainy or humid days.   The female selects a mate based upon his call, lays up to 2000 eggs in groups of 10 to 50.  The tadpoles hatch in four or five days and will change into froglets in about two months.    

The gray tree frog overwinters under leaf litter, logs and rocks and actually freezes.  Yup, it can freeze solid and thaw out perfectly fine when spring rolls-around.  It produces large amounts of glycerol replacing water in vital organs which acts like antifreeze (called a cryoprotectant) and prevents ice crystals from forming in the cells.  The frog’s body freezes and its heartbeat and breathing stop and the critter enters a sate of suspended animation.  Even the brain cells are barely functioning with demand for energy and oxygen dropping almost to zero.  This state of suspended animation require no upkeep.  When the temperature warms up – the frog thaws out and emerges to serenade us with its calling.

Now that, pardon the pun, is cool.

From a couple of nights ago taking Doggo out for potty call before bedtime I captured 30 seconds of this frog's chorale.  Turn-up the volume...