Southern Leopard Frog

Southern Leopard Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ranidae
Genus:	Lithobates
Species:	L. sphenocephalus
Binomial name
Lithobates sphenocephalus (Cope, 1886)
Synonyms
Rana utricularius Harlan, 1826 Rana halecina Holbrook, 1842 Rana halecina sphenocephala Cope, 1886 Rana utricularia sphenocephala Pace, 1974 Lithobates sphenocephalus Frost, et al., 2006

The Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) is a species of mostly aquatic true frog, found in the south-eastern third of the United States. There are two accepted subspecies.

Physical description

The Southern Leopard Frog is generally green or light brown in color, with dark brown or black blotching (that is the origin of their common name). They grow to 3 1/2" inches (90 mm) in length and have a pointed snout. These frogs are usually smaller than their close relative the Northern Leopard Frog and have less spots.^{[citation needed]}

Ecology and behavior

This species prefers shallow, freshwater habitats, such as streams, ponds or lakes, with plenty of vegetation for camouflage. They are mostly nocturnal, and carnivorous, consuming almost any kind of insect they can catch and fit in their mouth, as well as earthworms, spiders and centipedes. They are excellent jumpers, and typically escape predation by leaping into the water and swimming to the bottom. Breeding occurs year round, as long as the temperature permits. Eggs are laid in a clutch of several hundred at the bottom of shallow water. Tadpoles hatch and remain in the fully aquatic form for approximately 90 days, feeding on algae and rotting plant matter.^{[citation needed]}

Subspecies

• Florida Leopard Frog, Lithobates sphenocephalus sphenocephala (Cope, 1886)
• Southern Leopard Frog, Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularia (Harlan, 1825)

References

• Cope, Edward Drinker (1886). "Synonymic List of the North American Species of Bufo and Rana, with Descriptions of Some New Species of Batrachia, from Specimens in the National Museum". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 23 (124): 514–26. http://nolan.acnatsci.org/record=b1064581. 

• Frogs & Toads of Georgia: Southern Leopard Frog* Hammerson & Hedges (2004). Rana sphenocephala. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
• Frost, D. R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R., Haas, A., Haddad, C. F. B., de Sa, R. O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S. C., Raxworthy, C. J., Campbell, J. A., Blotto, B. L., Moler, P., Drewes, R. C., Nussbaum, R. A., Lynch, J. D., Green, D. M., & Wheeler, W. C. (2006): The amphibian tree of life. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.' 297: 1-371.
• Herps of Texas: Rana sphenocephala
• Hillis, D.M., Frost, J.S.,& Wright, D.A. (1983): Phylogeny and biogeography of the Rana pipiens complex: A biochemical evaluation. Systematic Zoology' 32: 132-143.
• Hillis, D.M. (1988): Systematics of the Rana pipiens complex: Puzzle and paradigm. Annual Review of Systematics and Ecology 19: 39-63.
• Study of Northern Virginia Ecology: Southern Leopard Frog

See also

• Northern Leopard Frog