The Pine Barrens Treefrog is one of the most striking amphibians in the eastern United States. With its bright green body and bold, purple side stripes, this little frog looks like it belongs in a tropical forest rather than the pine woodlands of the East Coast. It’s also pretty picky about where it lives, which makes finding one feel like discovering a hidden treasure in the woods.
Size & Physical Appearance
Pine Barrens Treefrogs are small, even by treefrog standards. Adults usually measure about 1 to 1.75 inches long. Their most recognizable feature is their vivid color pattern:
- Bright green body, often with small golden flecks
- Distinct purplish stripe bordered by white running from the snout through the eye and down each side
- Bright orange inner thighs that flash when they leap
Males and females look very similar, but males tend to be slightly smaller and have a darker throat, especially during the breeding season when their vocal sac is active. Juveniles look like mini versions of the adults but may appear slightly duller in color.
Habitat and Range
This species is a bit of a habitat specialist. Pine Barrens Treefrogs are tied closely to sandy, acidic wetlands like bogs, pine savannas, and pocosins (a type of swamp found in the Southeast). They need shallow, fish-free pools for breeding, often in areas dominated by sphagnum moss and pitcher plants.
Their range is surprisingly spotty. You can find them in three main, disconnected regions:
- New Jersey Pine Barrens
- Parts of the Florida Panhandle
- Portions of southern Alabama and the Carolinas
They’re typically found at low elevations, often below 500 feet.
Diet
Pine Barrens Treefrogs eat mostly small invertebrates. Their diet includes:
- Flies
- Beetles
- Moths
- Spiders
- Other small bugs they can catch on the forest floor or in low vegetation
They’re nocturnal hunters and often use their sticky tongues to nab prey near their hiding spots in vegetation.
Lifespan
In the wild, these frogs live about 2 to 4 years. In captivity, they may live a bit longer with proper care, though they are rarely kept as pets due to their specific habitat needs and conservation concerns.
Identification Tips
Pine Barrens Treefrogs are sometimes confused with other treefrog species, especially the Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea). A few helpful ways to tell them apart:
- Bold purple side stripe: This is the Pine Barrens Treefrog’s calling card. Green Treefrogs may have a lighter stripe but not a dark purple one edged in white.
- Orange inner thighs: This flash of color when they jump is a good clue if you spot one in motion.
- Call: Males have a distinctive nasal “honk” or “quonk” call during breeding season. It’s a short, duck-like sound, very different from other treefrog trills and peeps.
They’re also much more habitat-restricted than many other frogs, so if you’re in their known range in acidic wetlands, you have a better chance of being on the right track.
Fun Fact
Believe it or not, the Pine Barrens Treefrog was once named the “official state amphibian of New Jersey”. It’s such a symbol of the state’s unique pine barrens ecosystem that conservation groups use it to represent efforts to protect wetlands in the region. Plus, they were one of the early species used in amphibian conservation debates, thanks to their beautiful looks and highly localized habitats.
If you’re lucky enough to hear their call on a warm spring or summer night in a quiet bog, it’s a sound you won’t forget. Keep your ears peeled!