The Cuban tree frog hails from Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands; but has become invasive in several other places around the Americas. These large tree frogs have a voracious appetite and will eat nearly anything they can get into their mouths. They’re threatened by severe winter freezes that subsequently act as a natural check on their northward expansion, killing off local populations that cannot find sufficient shelter. Wildlife agencies, like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), have an ongoing encouragement of citizens and conservationists alike to capture and humanely euthanize them to protect native ecosystems. The Chytrid fungus and ranavirus both can cause mass die-offs to populations. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum, these highly invasive tree frogs directly outcompete native tree frogs (like the green tree frogs and squirrel tree frogs) for food and breeding habitats. Their large tadpoles also stunt the growth and survival of native tadpoles. These frogs also target beneficial insects and have been documented invading beehives, consuming honey bees, and distressing the apiary sector (where beehives are kept and managed). Often times they will crawl into bird nesting boxes, scaring away native birds and preventing them from properly nesting. That all being said, these invasive frogs are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as increasing as well.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Osteopilus septentrionalis
Weight: Up to 2 ounces
Length: Up to 5.5 inches
Lifespan: Up to 13 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These tree frogs have successfully established colonies in places such as Florida, the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and the Caribbean Islands.
2.) They can eat a wide variety of items, particularly native tree frogs, and seeing as they are cannibalistic, they even eat each other.
3.) Cuban tree frogs are the largest tree frog in North America.
4.) Being nocturnal (active at night) these amphibians sleep throughout the day.
5.) Unfortunately, their foraging activities occasionally take them up utility poles, where they can cause short-circuits of utility switches, which can cause costly power outages.
But wait, there’s more on the Cuban tree frog!
6.) Beetles, roaches, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, moths, geckos, anoles, snakes, other tree frogs, toads, leopard frogs, earthworms, red worms, and each other are all on the menu.
7.) Females can lay up to 1,000 eggs in a single clutch, and multiple clutches are produced throughout the year.
Did you know…?
They can secrete a toxic mucus from their skin which can cause a fiery sensation if it makes contact with a person’s or pet’s eyes.
8.) Eggs hatch in less than 48 hours (usually less then 32), and tadpoles metamorphose into adult frogs in up to 60 days.
9.) American crows, black racers, Cuban knight anoles, eastern garter snakes, rat snakes, and ribbon snakes all prey on these frogs.
10.) Due to their toxic mucus which can trigger an allergic (or asthmatic) reaction, this species is not an ideal pet. However, they are still husbanded in the exotic pet trade.
Now a Short Cuban Tree Frog Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
