A molting Copes Gray Treefrog

I was working on my neighboring cabin, until supper time. Just as I finished the weatherman forecasted rain, and I remembered I’d left my camera out hanging on a nail out there. Well, I jumped up and walked over to get it. On the way back, I was shinning my spotlight around and spotted this frog about 12’ up and about 4’ out on a branch in a Holly tree. Well, I had an extension ladder about 50 yards away, so brought it over and climbed up. I had to turn around and hang on with my left hand while I leaned and reached out behind to get within range. As I was about to take the shot, the frog opened its mouth and sort of lunged! I thought I was seeing some sort of strange defensive maneuver. While I had taken hundreds of frog pics I’d never seen one with its mouth open. So I sent some shots and description to a couple of biologist friends who also passed them up, until someone knew it was molting.
I had noticed the tight sliver of skin running from the corner of its mouth to behind the front leg. I didn’t realize they EAT their skin as it’s pulled off! Umm yumm!

Cool shots! I didn't know that frogs molted.

Tim

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What a great find! . And such interesting behavior!

I've wanted to photograph this species for a few years now, but have never even seen one. . You're so fortunate to live in their range and have opportunities like this available to you.


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Thanks Tom, yep, my weekend cabin is in the mist of prime frog habitat. That’s partially why I named the cabin Frogwarts. When the spawn is on, I can go out and really give my shutter finger a workout. One night I took 250 images that I thought were pretty good. I had males singing, some fighting over a bush, and maybe 50 amplexus pairs. It was intoxicating to find and shoot them as fast as I could get from one to the next.

Here is a amplex pair.

Keith Newton wrote in post #19472437
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Here is a amplex pair.

Hosted photo: posted by Keith Newton in
./showthread.php?p=194​72437&i=i130799904
forum: Wildlife

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My goodness, that is a tremendous image! . Honestly, one of the best wildlife photos I have seen on this forum in quite some time.

Was it shot in-situ, or did you position the frogs for that photoshoot?

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No, I didn’t touch any of them, nor linger more than just for a few shots, then on to the next.
Thank you so much for the compliment!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19472438
Was it shot in-situ, or did you position the frogs for that photoshoot?

The idea of acting as a matchmaker for frogs struck me as hilarious. I mean, the mechanics of it. Frogs are slippery and all.

Other species I’ve had pretty good success at capturing images of are Spring Peepers, and a Bronze frog in the second image.

Keith Newton wrote in post #19472437
Thanks Tom, yep, my weekend cabin is in the mist of prime frog habitat. That’s partially why I named the cabin Frogwarts. When the spawn is on, I can go out and really give my shutter finger a workout. One night I took 250 images that I thought were pretty good. I had males singing, some fighting over a bush, and maybe 50 amplexus pairs. It was intoxicating to find and shoot them as fast as I could get from one to the next.

Here is a amplex pair.

Hosted photo: posted by Keith Newton in
./showthread.php?p=194​72437&i=i130799904
forum: Wildlife

And a fighting pair of males.

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Great captures! I especially like the first.