Plains Leopard Frog
The plains leopard frog is sometimes known as the Blair's leopard frog after zoologist Dr W Frank Blair.
About This Species
Upper side brown, with large rounded or oval dark spots that usually have a light border; skin somewhat rough or nodulated; eardrum usually with distinct light spot; back with two parallel ridges, the rear ends of which are inset toward the middle; hind toes with extensive webbing; rear of thigh with dark reticulation.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Head and body length up to about 11 cm (4.3 inches), adults usually about 7–10 cm (2.8-3.9 inches). Mature male: base of innermost toe of front feet swollen during breeding season; expanded vocal sacs, one on each side, extend above front leg.
Range
Colorado Distribution: Great Plains portion of the Arkansas River drainage in southeastern Colorado and the Republican River drainage in northeastern Colorado. Locally common.
Habitat
Vicinity of streams, natural and artificial ponds, reservoirs, creek pools, irrigation ditches, and other bodies of water in plains grassland, sandhills, stream valleys, and canyon bottoms. May disperse far from water during wet, mild weather.
Reproduction
Breeding call
A series of short “clucks” followed by a few low chuckling or grunting sounds, together lasting usually less than two seconds.
Larvae
Upper side brown, olive, or gray, paler than northern leopard frog; spots on upper side circular; rear surface of thighs with dark crossbars when frog is near metamorphosis; snout rounded when viewed from above; mouth slightly behind tip of snout; eyes high on head; iris medium-gold, with no dorsal or ventral dark spots; tail fin high, 70–90 percent of body length; usually 2-3 rows of tiny teeth on upper lip, 3 rows on lower lip; tooth row closest to jaw on upper lip may consist of just a few tiny teeth on one or both sides of jaws); large larvae average around 6 cm (2.4 inches) long.
Eggs
Deposited in rounded clusters often 5–15 cm (2-6 inches) in diameter and including up to several hundred eggs (masses smaller than those of northern leopard frog); usually attached to vegetation in shallow water. Life History: Breeds in spring or summer in permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary ponds, and in stream pools and backwaters lacking a strong current. Larvae metamorphose into small frogs as early as June or as late as September.
Note: This species hybridizes with the northern leopard frog in some areas, so some frogs have mixed identification characteristics.