Head to head
Squirrel Treefrog vs Pine Barrens Treefrog
A squirrel treefrog and a Pine Barrens treefrog both belong to the same broad group of small North American treefrogs, but one thrives practically anywhere with a porch light, while the other survives only in a few very specific pockets of habitat.
| Squirrel Treefrog | Pine Barrens Treefrog | |
|---|---|---|
| Genus | Hyla | Hyla |
| Colouration | Variable green to brown, shifts quickly | Lavender-grey with bold dark stripe |
| Hidden flash colour | None notable | Bright orange on inner thighs |
| Habitat flexibility | High, tolerates disturbed and urban areas | Low, requires specific acidic wetlands |
| Range | Widespread across the southeastern US | A handful of disjunct populations |
| Common near buildings | Yes | No |
| Nickname | Rain frog | None widely used |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Squirrel Treefrog vs Pine Barrens Treefrog: common questions
Why is the Pine Barrens treefrog so much rarer than the squirrel treefrog?
The Pine Barrens treefrog depends on a fairly specific combination of acidic wetland conditions tied to pine and cedar forest, a habitat type that only naturally occurs in a limited number of regions, whereas the squirrel treefrog tolerates a much broader range of breeding water and general habitat conditions, including areas heavily altered by human development, which has allowed it to remain common across a far wider range.
Do both treefrogs live in the same part of the country?
Their ranges overlap only partially, since the squirrel treefrog is common and widespread across much of the southeastern United States, while the Pine Barrens treefrog survives in just a small number of scattered, disjunct populations, including New Jersey's namesake Pine Barrens and isolated pockets further south, rather than occupying a broad continuous range.
Which treefrog would you be more likely to see near a house?
The squirrel treefrog is by far the more likely of the two to turn up near a house, since it frequently gathers around windows and outdoor lighting that attract insect prey, while the Pine Barrens treefrog remains tied specifically to its narrow acidic wetland habitat and is rarely, if ever, encountered around human structures.