Keywords
greenhouse frogs
invasive species
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
This publication summarizes general knowledge about the greenhouse frog, a species introduced and established in the United States. Our target audience is primarily homeowners in Hawaii and Florida where the greenhouse frog is most common, but residents in other Southeastern states will also find this publication useful. Greenhouse frogs have been documented in several other states in this region and continue to expand their range. Homeowners usually encounter greenhouse frogs in their gardens and among potted plants, and sometimes in their swimming pools when the frogs fall in. Curious people then seek information on the frog’s identity. Our goals are to provide tips on greenhouse frog identification, to show the frog's geographic range in the United States, and to describe its biology and known or potential impacts.
References
Alonso [Bosch], R. and A. Rodríguez. 2003. “Entre la hojarasca bajo nuestros pies.” In Anfibios y Reptiles de Cuba, edited by L. Rodríguez Schettino, pp. 30–37. Vaasa, Finland: UPC Print.
Baakliny, J., and N. J. Kustok. 2023. “Lithobates sphenocephalus (Southern Leopard Frog). Diet.” Herpetological Review 54:272.
Beard, K. H., S. A. Johnson, and A. B. Shields. 2017. “Frogs (Coqui frogs, Greenhouse frogs, Cuban tree frogs, and Cane toads).” In Ecology and Management of Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasive Species in the United States, Edited by W. C. Pitt, J. C. Beasly, and G. W. Witmer, pp. 163–191. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 403 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315157078-9
Bomford, M., F. Kraus, S. C. Barry, and E. Lawrence. 2009. “Predicting Establishment Success for Alien Reptiles and Amphibians: A Role for Climate Matching.” Biological Invasions 11:713–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9285-3
Chase, E. C., R. J. Ossiboff, T. M. Farrell, A. L Childress, K. Lykins, S. A. Johnson, N. Thompson, and H. D. S. Walden. 2022. “Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in the Invasive Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Central Florida.” Journal of Wildlife Diseases 58:454–456. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00140
Cope, E. D. 1863. On Trachycephalus, Scaphiopus, and other American Batrachia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 15:43–54.
Cowie, R. H. 2013. “Biology, Systematics, Life Cycle, and Distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the Cause of Rat Lungworm Disease.” Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public Health 72 (6 Suppl 2): 6.
Daszak, P., A. A. Cunningham, and A. D. Hyatt. 2003. “Infectious Disease and Amphibian Population Declines.” Diversity and Distributions 9:141–150. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1472-4642.2003.00016.x
Davis, D. R. 2021. “New Distributional Records of Amphibians and Reptiles from the Western Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas, USA.” Herpetological Review 52:807–809.
Díaz, L. M., and A. Cádiz. 2008. Guía taxonómica de los anfibios de Cuba. – ABC Taxa, 4:1–294.
Dodd, C. K. 2023. Frogs of the United States and Canada. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. https://doi.org/10.56021/9781421444925
Dorcas, M. E., and J. W. Gibbons. 2008. Frogs & Toads of the Southeast. Athens: The University of Georgia Press.
Durso, A. M. and L. Smith. 2017. “Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Greenhouse Frog). Predation.” Herpetological Review 48:606.
Easteal, S. 1981. “The History of the Introductions of Bufo marinus (Amphibia: Anura); a Natural Experiment in Evolution.” Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 16:93–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1981.tb01645.x
Enge, K. M. 1997. “A Standardized Protocol for Drift-Fence Surveys.” Technical Report No. 14, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee.
Fisher, M. C., T. W. Garner, and S. F. Walker. 2009. “Global Emergence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Amphibian Chytridiomycosis in Space, Time, and Host.” Annual Review of Microbiology 63:291–310. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.micro.091208.073435
Eubig, P. A. 2001. “Bufo Species Toxicosis: Big Toad, Big Problem.” Veterinary Medicine 96:594–599.
Fujisaki, I., F. J. Mazzotti, J. Watling, K. L. Krysko, and Y. Escribano. 2015. “Geographic risk assessment reveals spatial variation in invasive species potential of exotic reptiles in invasive species hotspot.” Herpetological Conservation and Biology 10:621–632.
García-Padrón, L. Y., and C. A. B. Quevedo. 2022. “Notes on the Diet of the Cuban Flat-Headed Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Eleutherodactylidae) from Two Understudied Habitats in Western Cuba.” Reptiles & Amphibians 29: 311–313. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v29i1.17956
Garrido, O. H., and A. Schwartz. 1968. Anfibios, reptiles y aves de la peninsula de Guanahacabibes, Cuba. Poeyana, ser. A 53:1–68.
Goin, C. J. 1947. “Studies on the Life History of Eleutherodactylus ricordii planirostris (Cope) in Florida.” University of Florida Studies, Biological Science Series 4:1–66.
Goodman, R. M., J. A. Tyler, D. M. Reinartz, and A. N. Wright. 2019. “Survey of Ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Introduced Frogs in Hawaii, USA.” Journal of Wildlife Diseases 55: 668–672. https://doi.org/10.7589/2018-05-137
Hedges, S. B., W. E. Duellman, and M. P. Heinicke. 2008. “New World Direct-Developing Frogs (Anura: Terrarana): Molecular Phylogeny, Classification, Biogeography, and Conservation.” Zootaxa 1737:1–182. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1737.1.1
Heinicke, M. P., L. M. Diaz, and S. B. Hedges. 2011. “Origin of Invasive Florida Frogs Traced to Cuba.” Biology Letters 7:407–410. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.1131
Henderson, R. W. and R. Powell. 2009. “Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians.” Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Hodl, W. 1990. “Reproductive Diversity in Amazonian Lowland Frogs.” Fortschritte der Zoologie 38:41–60.
Iannone, B.V, III, S. Carnevale, M. B. Main, J. E. Hill, J. B. McConnell, S. A. Johnson, S.F. Enloe, et al. 2020. “Invasive Species Terminology: Standardizing for Stakeholder Education.” Journal of Extension 58:3 https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.03.27
Iturriaga, M., A. Sanz, and R. Oliva. 2014. “Seasonal Reproduction of the Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) in Havana, Cuba.” South American Journal of Herpetology 9:142–150. https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-13-00039.1
Iturriaga, M., and A. Dugo-Cota. 2018. “Parental Care in the Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Cope, 1862) from Cuba.” Herpetology Notes 11:857–861.
Jensen, J. B., C. D. Camp, G. W. Gibbons, and M. J. Elliott. 2008. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. Athens: University of Georgia Press.
Johnson, S. A. 2023. “The Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Florida: WEC218 UW259, 2 2023.” EDIS 2023 (1). Gainesville, Florida. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-UW259-2023
Kaiser, B. A., and K. M. Burnett. 2006. “Economic Impacts of Coqui Frogs in Hawaii.” Interdisciplinary Environmental Review 8:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1504/IER.2006.053951
King, W., and T. Krakauer. 1966. “The Exotic Herpetofauna of Southeast Florida.” Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences 29:144–154.
Kraus, F., E. W. Campbell, A. Allison, and T. Pratt. 1999. “Eleutherodactylus Frog Introductions to Hawaii.” Herpetological Review 30:21–25.
Kraus, F. 2009. Alien Reptiles and Amphibians: A Scientific Compendium and Analysis. Springer. 563 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8946-6
Krysko, K. L., K. M. Enge, and P. E. Moler. 2019. Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. 706 pp.
Krysko, K. L., L. A. Somma, D. C. Smith, C. R. Gillette, D. Cueva, J. A. Wasilewski, K. M. Enge, et al. 2016. “New Verified Nonindigenous Amphibians and Reptiles in Florida through 2015, with Summary of over 152 Years of Introductions.” IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 23:110–143. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v23i2.14119
Lee, R., T. Y. Pai, R. Churcher, S. Davies, J. Braddock, M. Linton, J. Yu, et al. 2021. “Further Studies of Neuroangiostrongyliasis (Rat Lungworm Disease) in Australian Dogs: 92 New Cases (2010–2020) and Results for a Novel, High Sensitivity qPCR Assay.” Parasitology 148:178–186. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182020001572
Lips, K. R. 1991. “Vertebrates Associated with Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Burrows in Four Habitats in South-Central Florida.” Journal of Herpetology 25:477–481. https://doi.org/10.2307/1564772
Mathies, T., W. C. Pitt, and J. A. Rabon. 2012. “Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnake) Diet.” Herpetological Review 43:143–144.
Meshaka, W. E., Jr. 1996. “Diet and Colonization of Buildings by the Cuban Treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis (Anura: Hylidae).” Caribbean Journal of Science 32:59–63.
Meshaka, W. E., Jr., B. P. Butterfield, and J. B. Hague. 2004. The Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. Malabar, Florida: Kreiger Publishing Company.
Meshaka, W. E., Jr. 2011. “A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida.” Herpetological Conservation & Biology 6 (Monograph1):1–101.
Meshaka, W. E., Jr., S. L. Collins, R. B. Bury, and M. L. McCallum. 2022. Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813066967.001.0001
Meshaka, W. E., and J. N. Layne 2005. “Habitat Relationships and Seasonal Activity of the Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planrostris) in Southern Florida.” Florida Scientist 68:35–43.
Morgan, E. R., D. Modry, C. Paredes-Esquivel, P. Foronda and D. Traversa. 2021. “Angiostrongylosis in Animals and Humans in Europe.” Pathogens 10:1236. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10101236
Mularo, A. J., J. A. DeWoody, and X. E. Bernal. 2023. “Establishment and Occurrence History of Three Invasive Anuran Species Across the Florida Peninsula.” Journal of Herpetology 57:381–389. https://doi.org/10.1670/23-002
Niebuhr, C. N., S. I. Jarvi, L. Kaluna, B. L. Torres Fischer, A. R. Deane, I. L. Lenbach, and S. R. Siers. 2020. “Occurrence of Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Invasive Coqui Frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and Other Hosts in Hawaii, USA.” Journal of Wildlife Diseases 56:203–207. https://doi.org/10.7589/2018-12-294
Neill, W. T. 1951. “A Bromeliad Herpetofauna in Florida.” Ecology 32:140–143. https://doi.org/10.2307/1930979
Olson, C. A. 2011. “Diet, Density, and Distribution of the Introduced Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, on the Island of Hawaii.” M.S. thesis. Utah State University, Logan.
Olson, C. A., and K. H. Beard. 2012. “Diet of the Introduced Greenhouse Frog in Hawaii. Copeia, 2012:121–129. https://doi.org/10.1643/CE-11-008
Olson, C. A, K. H. Beard, and W. C. Pitt. 2012. “Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species.” 8. Eleutherodactylys planirostris, the Greenhouse Frog (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae).” Pacific Science 66:255–270. https://doi.org/10.2984/66.3.1
Price, S. J., T. W. Garner, R. A. Nichols, F. Balloux, C. Ayres, A. M. C. de Alba, and J. Bosch. 2014. “Collapse of Amphibian Communities Due to an Introduced Ranavirus.” Current Biology 24:2586–2591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.028
Rivera, B., K. Cook, K. Andrews, M. S. Atkinson, and A. E. Savage. 2019. “Pathogen Dynamics in an Invasive Frog Compared to Native Species.” EcoHealth 16:222–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-019-01432-4
Rizkalla, C. E. 2010. “Increasing Detections of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Central Florida, USA.” Herpetological Review 41:180.
Rödder, D., and S. Lötters. 2010. “Explanative Power of Variables Used in Species Distribution Modelling: An Issue of General Model Transferability or Niche Shift in the Invasive Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris).” Naturwissenschaften 97:781–796 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0694-7
Rodríguez-Cabrera, T. M., L. Y. García-Padrón, E. M. Savall, and J. Torres. 2020. “Predation on Direct-Developing Frogs (Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus) in Cuba: New Cases and a Review.” Reptiles & Amphibians 27:161–168. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v27i2.14175
Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press.
Shine, R. 2010. “The Ecological Impact of Invasive Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) in Australia.” The Quarterly Review of Biology 85 (3): 253–291. https://doi.org/10.1086/655116
Stewart, M. M. 1977. “The Role of Introduced Species in a Jamaican Frog Community.” Actas del IV Simposium Internacional de Ecologia Tropical, Tomo 1:111–146.
Tuberville, T. D., J. D. Willson, M. E. Dorcas, and J. W. Gibbons. 2005. “Herpetofaunal Species Richness of Southeastern National Parks.” Southeastern Naturalist 4:537–569. https://doi.org/10.1656/1528-7092(2005)004[0537:HSROSN]2.0.CO;2
Vallejo-Pareja, M. C., E. L. Stanley, J. I. Bloch, and D. C. Blackburn. 2024. “Fossil frogs (Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus) from Florida suggest overwater dispersal from the Caribbean by the late Oligocene.” Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 201:431–446. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad130
Walden, H. D. S., J. Slapcinsky, J. Rosenberg and J. F. X. Wellehan. 2021. “Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Rat Lungworm) in Florida, U.S.A.: Current Status.” Parasitology 148:149.152. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182020001286
Witz, D. W., and D. S. Wilson. 1991. “Distribution of Gopherus polyphemus and Its Vertebrate Symbionts in Three Burrow Categories.” American Midland Naturalist 126:152–158. https://doi.org/10.2307/2426159
Wright, A. A., and A. H. Wright. 1949. Handbook of Frogs and Toads. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates 640 p
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 UF/IFAS