Greenhouse Frog

Range

The Greenhouse Frog is native to Cuba, the Bahamas and maybe some other islands in the West Indies. This specie probably made its way from Cuba to Florida and Georgia as a stowaway in tropical plant shipments. They are quite widespread in Florida and have also been introduced in Jamaica. They have also been introduced to the Cayman Islands, some of the Bahamas and in the area around Veracruz, Mexico. Lastly, there are remote archives in the Florida panhandle, New Orleans, Louisiana, southern Alabama, and coastal and southern Georgia.

Habitats

They can be found in both residential areas and a vast range of natural terrestrial habitats. They’re not very good climbers so they prefer to stay close to the ground. They stay in warm, humid areas that have moist ground cover and other suitable hiding places. They are most active at night and during or right after the rain. Their diet is made up of ants, beetles and other tiny invertebrates. Breeding occurs from May to September where a cluster of up to 20 eggs are laid terrestrially. The eggs hatch into fully formed froglets in about 2 weeks.

Identification

This specie is comprised of very miniature frogs. They are about 12 – 30 mm in total length. Their background colour is usually brown, reddish-brown, or bronze. They also have two pattern phases: speckled with dark and light markings, usually with indistinct chevron-shaped bands on its back and between its eyes and striped with 2 faint longitudinal stripes on its back. Additionally, it has no webbing between its toes. Lastly, its eyes are red, with its belly grey or white with the infrequent dark spot.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians