Osteopilus septentrionalis
Cuban treefrog

Osteopilus septentrionalis is native to Cuba and nearby islands. it has also been introduced throughout the Caribbean and into southern Florida (Bartlett, 1996).

Typical of tree frogs, O. septentrionalis spends most of its time in trees or very large plants, especially those with large leaves.They are found only where low temperatures stay above 10 degrees C, with daytime temperatures between 23-29 degrees. This species also prefers areas of high humidity, thus it is very common along waterways. As O. septentrionalis has been introduced, it has become particularly abundant around the pool areas of hotels, where the comination of large decorative vegetation and abundant food resources have made for a favorable habitat (Bartlett,1996).

This is the largest of the American tree frogs. Males generally have a maximum size of 5.1-6.3 cm (SVL), with females being much larger, attaining a size of 12.7 cm (SVL). Osteopilus septentrionalis is highly variable in color, but they are usually some shade of gray, tan or olive, occasionally with dark, marbled blotches dorsally. Their skin is very textured, and they have extremely large eyes and toe pads (Bartlett, 1996).

Osteopilus septentrionalis is an almost entirely nocturnal species, and spends its active time either searching for prey or defending their territories. For the most part, O.septentroinalis is arboreal, but is known to venture onto the ground to hunt and breed. During the day, they usually spend their time on the underside of large leaves or hidden in crevices in trees, where it is typically more humid (Bartlett,1996).

Osteopilus septentrionalis is a voracious predator, and will eat almost anything they can fit in their mouths. They are generally insectivorous, feeding mainly on large cockroaches and moths. however, large adults are known to consume everything from small lizards and snakes to young mice and even hatchling birds (Bartlett, 1996).

This species has been widely introduced throughout the Caribbean and into southern Florida, and appears to be having a negative impact on the ecosystems it is invading. It has been observed that in the areas of introduction, there has been a marked decrease in the populations of native tree frogs, probably due to predation and competition for resources (Bartlett,1996).

Osteopilus septentrionalis does not appear to have much of an impact on human beings, aside from a very small representation in the American pet trade.

Currently, numbers of Osteopilus septentrionalis appear to be on the rise. They appear to be doing especially well in urban residential areas, and are spreading very rapidly throughout the Caribbean. This does not bode well for native species of tree frog, which don't appear to be able to compete with O. septentrionalis.