General Description: Northern Pacific Treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), sometimes called Pacific Chorus Frogs, are small frogs with suction cups on the toes and a dark line through the eye that ends behind the mouth. These frogs come in green and brown, but the eyeline is consistent.

Taxonomy: Order Frogs and Toads (Anura); Family Treefrogs (Hylidae). This species was originally described in the genus Hyla, the Treefrog genus. However, it was later moved to the genus Pseudacris, the Chorus frog genus. Nonetheless, people seem to have stuck with the original common name, calling it the Pacific Treefrog, rather than the Pacific Chorus Frog.

Technical Description: Body size small (1 to 1-1/2 inches). Toes tips with expanded toepads. Face with dark stripe through the eye. Dorsal coloration in two phases: all green or brown with darker blotches, but they can change from green to dark phases. In dark individuals, often a dark triangular or Y-shaped mark on the top of the head. Ventral surface cream. Hind legs with yellow. In males, throat gray.

Diet: Flying insects.

Habitat: Wet areas, including streams, ponds, and marshes. Usually found near the ground, in and around emergent vegetation.

Range: British Columbia to Baja California, from the Pacific coast east to near the east edge of Nevada.

Breeding: Breeds winter to mid-summer, depending on location.

Similar Species: There are no other tree frogs (small frogs) in southern Nevada.

Comments:

Froglet. Notice the four fully developed legs, including toepads and the complete tail. As it grows, this froglet will absorb its tail, using the nutrients and tissue as it grows. This little froglet was captured on what might have been its first attempt to leave the water; hopefully it learned from the incident.