Plains Leopard Frog
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| Lithobates blairi (Mecham, Littlejohn, Oldham, Brown, and Brown, 1973) |
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The Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi [1][2], previously Rana blairi) is a species of mostly aquatic frog native to the United States. It is sometimes referred to as Blair's Leopard Frog, named for the noted zoologist and University of Texas professor, Dr. W. Frank Blair.
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[edit] Description
The Plains Leopard Frog grows from 2 to 3.24 inches in length, and is typically brown in color. Their common name originates from the distinctive irregular, dark colored spotting on their back. They have long, powerful legs and are capable of leaping great distances.
[edit] Behavior
Although found throughout semi-arid regions, the Plains Leopard Frog is almost always found in or very near permanent water sources, such as streams, creeks, and ponds. They are nocturnal, and primarily insectivorous, though they will eat almost anything they can overpower and swallow, including other frogs. They are shy animals, often fleeing beneath the water if approached.
[edit] Geographic distribution
The Plains Leopard Frog, as its name implies, is found throughout the Great Plains of the United States, from Indiana west across central and southern plains to South Dakota, south to Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. With a disjunct population in Arizona.
[edit] Conservation status
The Plains Leopard Frog is fairly common throughout its range, and holds no special conservaton status, except in the state of Indiana, where it is a species of concern. Likely due to the generalized decline in amphibian populations that has been observed over the last several decades, often attributed to the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
[edit] References
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. 2006. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 4 (17 August 2006). Electronic Database accessible at http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.php. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.
- ^ Frost et al. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Number 297. New York. Issued March 15, 2006.
