Green Tree Frog
Hyla cinerea

The State of Georgia is home to 85 different species of amphibians, which gives it the distinction of having the second greatest amphibian diversity of any state in the United States behind North Carolina. Senate Bill 41, sponsored by Sen. Preston Smith and signed into law May 9, 2005 by Gov. Sonny Perdue, designated the Green Tree Frog as the official state amphibian of Georgia.

The green tree frog is a 2-inch lime-green frog with a white stripe down each side. It eats bugs and lives mostly in trees, but also has the ability to climb and cling to smooth surfaces like windows and sliding glass doors. According to the bill, the green tree frog's (hyla cinerea) habitat includes nearly all of Georgia, so virtually all Georgians are familiar with the amphibian or have a great opportunity to see its conspicuous bright color and striped markings. The green tree frog is also recognized for its large aggregations of calling males that create conspicuous and characteristic nighttime choruses during the warm months in Georgia.