Barking treefrogs are a large, colorful species, with a predominantly green dorsal coloration that is typically broken up by scattered dark spots. At night or during periods of stress, the color will change from green to a deep purple or brown. Males can be differentiated from females by the presence of a green or yellow throat. Adults measure from 2 to 2¾ inches in total length, making them one of the larger tree frogs found in the United States.

Barking treefrogs are found, for the most part, in the southeastern United States as far west as extreme eastern Louisiana and as far north as southeastern Virginia.
Crickets make a good staple food item. As do small mealworms and small silk moth larvae. Barking tree frogs have a large appetite and can become fat if overfed. They are preyed upon by birds, snakes and raccoons. Their average lifespan is anywhere between 8 to 12 years.