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Description:
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Stockier
than other leopard frogs looking like a small bullfrog
with spots. Maximum size is 50 - 135 cm. Sexually dimorphic
(males are smaller than females). Coloring is usually
an olive to dark green, with charcoal spots. Face is usually
green. The groin and abdomen are yellow. |
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Range:
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Montane
central Arizona east and south along the Mogollon Rim
to montane parts of western New Mexico; SE montane section
of AZ adjacent to Sonora; extreme SW corner of NM; and
Mexico through Sierra Madre and Chihuahua. |
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Habitat:
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Uses
a large variety of permanent aquatic habitats including
springs, streams, man-made and natural ponds, and lakes.
Exists from 1,000 to 2,600 meters in elevation in habitats
where adequate water depth provides escapes from predators.
Habitat tends to contain abundant aquatic vegetation. |
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Behavior:
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Nests
in thickets of trees and shrubs approximately 4-7 m. tall
with high percentage of canopy cover and dense foliage
from 0 to 4 m. off ground. |
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Life
Cycle:
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These
frogs need permanent water for reproduction. Those found
above 1,800 m. breed during June/ July/August; below 1,800
meters breed from spring to late summer (but prior to
June mostly). Egg masses are usually suspended within
5 cm of the surface on vegetation growing in water 15-35
cm deep near the shore of ponds and streams. Masses are
clumped in spherical form. Metemophosis occurs 2 to 9
months after hatching and time varies depending on temperature.
Tadpoles are dark colored and reproductive maturity usually
requires 2-3 years from metamorphosis. Life span is up
to 14 years in the wild. |
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Forage:
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Probably
a wide range of invertebrates (caterpillars, beetles,
etc.). Threats: Habitat destruction and alteration; aquatic
habitat drainage (causes fragmentation), river channeling,
damming, and grazing. Also bullfrog and exotic fish introductions
(predation) and UV-B radiation caused by ozone. |
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Notes:
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Family:
Ranidae. Extirpated from almost 50% of its historical
occurrences in the U.S. Has declined more than any other
leopard frog in Arizona. Soutwest Center is conducting
a status review of this species. |
