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| Common Name: |
Leopard Frog |
| Scientific Name: |
Rana pipiens |
| Classification: |
True Frog |
| Description: |
A green or brown frog with large, light-edged
spots. Leopard Frogs also have prominent light-coloured
dorsolateral ridges and a white belly. They can grow to over
10 cm body length but this is quite rare. Adults are usually
5-8 cm. |
Call:
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The male's call is a low snore followed by
several low grunts and does not carry very far. Sometimes it
sounds like a finger rubbed on a wet balloon. It is similar to
the call of the Pickerel Frog but more complex. |
| Confusing Species: |
In eastern Canada the Leopard Frog is most
similar to the Pickerel Frog. The Pickerel Frog has more
squarish spots, a yellow belly and is always brown. In western
Canada there are no other large frogs with large spots. |
| Distribution: |
The Leopard Frog is found in every province and
territory with the exception of the Yukon. It is found in only
southeastern British Columbia and the southern portions of the
Northwest Territories. Leopard Frogs occur across most of
central and eastern Canada. They are native to Labrador, and
are introduced on the island of Newfoundland. They are also
found through much of the northern United States. |
| Habitat: |
Leopard Frogs occupy a wide range of habitats
from prairie to woodland to tundra. They are often found a
considerable distance from open water.
Found in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New
Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia,
Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan |
| Reproduction: |
Breeding occurs in mid-late spring in
relatively permanent ponds without fish. Egg masses are
attached to submerged vegetation. A female can lay up to 7000
eggs although half this number is more typical. The eggs are
approximately 1.5 mm in diameter and hatch in one to three
weeks depending upon the temperature. Tadpoles transform in
mid to late summer. |
| Natural History: |
The Northern Leopard Frog is part of a large
complex of closely related species that range across all of
North America. Only the Northern Leopard Frog is found in
Canada. Leopard Frogs eat a wide variety of prey, but mainly
insects, spiders and other small invertebrates. They are eaten
by snakes, turtles, herons and raccoons, to name but a few
predators. Winters are spent on the bottom of waterbodies that
do not freeze solid. In many areas Leopard Frogs hibernate in
different ponds from where they breed. It takes a Leopard Frog
approximately two years to reach maturity. In captivity, they
have lived for up to nine years although individuals in the
wild would likely only live to age three or four. |
| Conservation
Concerns: |
In western Canada Leopard Frogs have
dramatically declined over the last few decades. They
virtually disappeared from Manitoba in the late 1970s and
large declines have also been reported from Alberta. There is
some evidence that they have also declined in northern
Ontario. Populations appear to have stabilized and in some
instances increased. Although the cause of the decline has not
been confirmed possible causes are long-term drought and
habitat loss. |
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| Data provided by the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation Network. |
