Pine Barrens Tree Frog
Encyclopedia
The Pine Barrens Tree Frog, Hyla andersonii, is a species of New World
tree frog.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
The key to distinguishing the Pine Barrens Tree Frog from the similar-appearing American green tree frog
(H. cinerea) is the white-bordered lavender strip on each side of the body in the Pine Barrens Tree Frog. H. cinerea has only a white stripe in this location.
bog
s or shallow ponds. They usually inhabit areas carpeted with thick moss
. Adult Hyla andersonii are terrestrial, but tend to reside near water sources. Unlike most frogs, Hyla andersonii are tolerant of low pH
levels, and often lay eggs in shallow, acid
ic ponds. The ideal pH level for H. andersonii eggs is between 3.8 and 5.9
Due to the limited extent of suitable Hyla andersonii habitats, members of the species are currently distributed in three distinct populations in the eastern United States
. These populations are located in the New Jersey
Pine Barrens
, the Sandhills
of North
and South Carolina
, and the Florida
panhandle (with Alabama
). It is also suspected that small Hyla andersonii populations are located in the state of Georgia
.
by the United States 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.
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
tree frog.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
Physical characteristics
Hyla andersonii, only about 1–3 in (25.4–76.2 mm) 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
American green tree frog
The American green tree frog is a common species of New World tree frog belonging to the genus Hyla. It is a common backyard species that is popular as a pet, and is the state amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana.-Description:...
(H. cinerea) is the white-bordered lavender strip on each side of the body in the Pine Barrens Tree Frog. H. cinerea has only a white stripe in this location.
Habitat
Hyla andersonii are most commonly found in brushy areas, often near peatPeat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s or shallow ponds. They usually inhabit areas carpeted with thick moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
. Adult Hyla andersonii are terrestrial, but tend to reside near water sources. Unlike most frogs, Hyla andersonii are tolerant of low pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
levels, and often lay eggs in shallow, acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic ponds. The ideal pH level for H. andersonii eggs is between 3.8 and 5.9
Distribution
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
. These populations are located in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
, the Sandhills
Sandhills (Carolina)
The Sandhills is a region in the interior of the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. It is a strip of ancient beach dunes which generally divides the Piedmont from the coastal plain, and is the evidence of a former coastline when the ocean level was higher, or the land lower. The...
of North
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
panhandle (with Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
). It is also suspected that small Hyla andersonii populations are located in the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Conservation status
It was listed as endangeredEndangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
between 1977 and 1983, when additional populations were found in Florida. The IUCN has classified it as Near Threatened as of 1996.