Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala)
By: Olivia VanDolzer
The Southern Leopard Frog- Appearance The Southern Leopard Frog is an amphibian that grows to a length of 2 to 3.5 inches. Its color varies from tan, to shades of brown, to green. The dorsum (back) has irregular dark brown spots between light colored areas, with large dark spots on its legs. It has a light line above its upper jaw, a light spot on its ear, and long hind legs and toes. It has a slender body, with a narrow, pointed head. Males are smaller than females. They also have large forearms and thumbs, and have paired vocal sacs that look like balloons when inflated. They use their thumbs to rub against their vocal sacs.
FUN FACT
The mating call of a Southern Leopard Frog is a series of sudden, deep croaks- creating a guttural trill. The trill rate can be as many as 13 per second! The male frogs make this call on land or in shallow water, and they make a variety of different calls during mating season. Male frogs also use certain visual cues to compete for females.
Habitat
Southern Leopard Frogs prefer to live in shallow, freshwater areas. However, if there is enough moisture and vegetation for protection, they can be seen some distance from water. These frogs are not easy to maintain in captivity, and don’t make very good pets.
EVOLUTION: The Southern Leopard Frogs mottled coloration helps camouflage it from possible predators! It’s color helps ensure it will survive and reproduce!
Fun Fact
Hide and Seek Champion
Southern Leopard Frog- Distribution Southern Leopard Frogs can be seen throughout the eastern United States, from New Jersey east as far as Nebraska and Oklahoma and south into Texas. The Southern Leopard Frog is the most common frog in the Coastal Plain. Great Egrets, Garter Snakes, and Green River Grasses can also be found in these habitats.
FUN FACT
Southern Leopard Frogs are often used for dissections in science classes!
“Somebody help me!!!”
EAT OR BE EATEN
The Southern Leopard Frog preys on animals such as earthworms, spiders, centipedes, and other small insects. Its predators include raccoons, skunks, and aquatic snakes!
FOOD WEB
FUN FACT
Southern Leopard Frogs are raised and eaten by humans. If you’re eating frog legs at a restaurant...it’s usually a Southern Leopard Frog!
Southern Leopard Frog- Life Cycle Southern Leopard Frogs breed year round depending on moisture and temperature. The female lays several hundred eggs just beneath the surface of the water in a round mass. Tadpoles will hatch in about seven to ten days, and take about 60-90 days to metamorphose into frogs. Southern Leopard Frogs have a lifespan of 3 years.
Southern Leopard Frog Life Cycle
The Southern Leopard Frog
References
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/southernleopardfrog/ http://ninnescahlife.wichita.edu/sites/default/files/private/images/frog_cricket%20%20nomnom.jpg http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/southern_leopard_frog.htm http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/southern-leopard-frog http://ncpedia.org/wildlife/southern-leopard-frog https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7118/6937366286_3e6e43d318_b.jpg http://www.herpsoftexas.org/sites/herpsoftexas.org/files/imagecache/Preview/herp_photos/ranasphenocephala_BJohnston.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ffcxG3xbkR3z3RzCJKrhUiUw4ej_igBmIGrzPnJExh_55Gjxki8lts3MjX0W1jtiE2wgySn7oJKsBNlE4D9OEX3EBRHk http://charleskiblinger.com/frogs/southern-leopard-frog-sm.jpg http://oddstuffmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Fried-frog-legs.jpg http://www.animalspot.net/southern-leopard-frogs.html http://02b93fb.netsolhost.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/S-Leopard-Frog-vocal-sac-crop-by-John-Harrod.jpg http://images.clipartpanda.com/balloon-20clip-20art-BalloonRed.png http://arkansasfrogsandtoads.org/southern-leopard-frog/ http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Southern-Leopard-Frogs-Pictures.jpg http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/leopard_frog_d75q5372.jpg http://arkansasfrogsandtoads.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/SouthernLeopardFrog-David-Arbour.jpg