THE CALIFORNIA CHORUS TREE FROG

This small animal (thumb size about 1 to 1.5 inches long) is a master at hiding, not only because of its small size, but also because it has considerable color variation (tan to green). That makes it hard to find these frogs in trees, where they live and broadcast their presence via loud mating calls. They also has small green “bumps” on their back (these are too small to call this animal is a toad). They all have distinctive dark strips on their legs. They make trill sounds (similar to some insects). 

 Figure 1. The "California Chorus Tree Frog," Pseudacris cadaverina?, found in a backyard in Saugus, southern California, Los Angeles County. 

Chorus frogs are native to North America, ranging from southern Canada down though the continental United States (including Los Angeles County) as well as in Baja California (Mexico). 

Although they are found in trees, this frog is primarily a ground dweller and spends most of its time in thick grass, low vegetation, and leaf litter.

  Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Amphibia

Order Annura

Family Hylidae

Genus Pseudacris (note: there are many species)

Type Species P. nigrita

Reference

Wikipedia, 2026