Hyla arenicolor
—
Canyon Treefrog
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/canyon_treefrog.jpg)
When we first saw this frog its back was uniformly light colored. It hopped a couple of times and then rested. Five minutes later it had developed the dark spots on its back, which helped its camouflage.
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/04081340PD_canyon_treefrog.jpg)
My friend John McCaffrey spotted this tiny froglet, still half-tadpole, as it hopped across the rocky substrate of Oak Creek Canyon.
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/09080610PD_treefrog.jpg)
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/09080613PD_treefrog.jpg)
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/09080614PD_treefrog.jpg)
On a hot August morning, the remaining pools of water in Sabino Creek were swarming with treefrog tadpoles and metamorphs. The surrounding granite boulders were festooned with their adult counterparts.
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/10042604PD_frog.jpg)
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/10042605PD_frog.jpg)
This corpulent Canyon Treefrog was clinging to the brick wall surrounding the patio outside of the cafeteria at McDonald Observatory. The cafeteria has excellent quesadillas, by the way.
![Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)](../images/herps/standard/17082538PD.jpg)
A half dozen of us herpers had spread out to search a particular canyon for Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes. My first sign of herpetological life was this cute li'l treefrog, which I followed from rock to rock as it hopped about to evade me. Eventually it hopped over to a small log, which prompted me to look under the log, which made me very happy. (No rattlesnakes were found by anyone that afternoon.)
Printed references:
- Behler, J. L., King, F. W. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians
- Brennan, T. C. and Holycross, A. T. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Degenhardt, W. G., Painter, C. W., Price, A. H. 1996. Amphibians & Reptiles of New Mexico
- Elliott, L., Gerhardt, C. and Davidson, C. 2009. The Frogs and Toads of North America
- Hanson, J., Hanson, R. B. 1997. 50 Common Reptiles & Amphibians of the Southwest
- Stebbins, R. C. 2003. Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition
- Wauer, R. H. 1964. Reptiles and Amphibians of Zion National Park
- Wilkinson, T. 1995. Wildlife Watcher's Guide: Grand Canyon, Zion & Bryce