Osteopilus septentrionalis Dum ril & Bibron, 1841

Species Impact: In Florida, may be having negative effect on populations of native treefrogs, HYLA CINEREA and H. SQUIRELLA (Wilson and Porras 1983).

This species reproduces in late spring, as temperatures climb into the range of 27-29 degrees C. Males typically establish some kind of territory in a pond or flooded ditch, and call to females with vocalizations consisting of clucks, growls and squeaks. Mating occurs via inguinal amplexus, and eggs are laid in scattered masses underwater.

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Syntype for Osteopilus septentrionalis
Catalog Number: USNM 167237
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Ethanol
Locality: No Further Locality Data, Cuba

Cuban treefrogs are relatively large frogs in the family Hylidae. They have very large toe pads which are sometimes as large as their tympanum. There is no webbing between the toes on the front legs; however, the rear toes are slightly webbed. Their color is quite variable. They are usually gray to gray green but range to tan brown. While these frogs have irises that are parallel to the ground when sitting, they do not have a stripe running through or below their eyes, as some tree frogs do. They have a distinct tarsal fold extending the full length of the tarsus. Juvenile Cuban tree frogs can be difficult to identify (Duellman and Crombie 1970; Ashton and Ashton 1988; Carmichael and Williams 1991; Conant and Collins 1991). Tadpoles have a rounded body, and are black-colored on their dorsal side. The fleshy part of the wide-finned tail is gray-brown, and the fin has scattered dark flecking on it (Ashton and Ashton 1988).

A Spanish-language species account can be found at the website of Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio).