Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

The plains leopard frog enjoys arid regions of the plains and prairies. It can be found along streams and ponds in western Indiana to southeast South Dakota and eastern Colorado. It can also be found south to central Texas and isolated colonies in southeast Illinois, New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona (Conant 1991).

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic
  • native

Habitat

The plains leopard frog basks on vegetation mats at the edge of shallow streams and ponds. The frogs occur clumped in small groups during breeding season and during the fall, but may be widely dispersed when actively foraging. Lithobates blairi is active at warmer temperatures and has a critical thermal maximum body temperature of 37°C (BISON-M 1997).

Physical Description

The plains leopard frog is stocky and usually brown in color. It has a distinct light line along the upper jaw and a dark spot on the snout. The tympanum is equal or slightly larger than the eye, often with a light spot in the center. Dorsolateral folds are inset medially and interrupted just anterior to the groin. The groin and ventral surface of the thighs are considerably yellow in color. The area around the cloaca is covered with tubercles. Size: 2 - 3 3/4 inches (BISON-M 1997, Conant 1991).

• Other Physical Features
• ectothermic
• bilateral symmetry

Development

• Development - Life Cycle
• metamorphosis

Reproduction

Breeding takes places anywhere from February-October. Most move from overwintering sites to breeding sites in the spring. Males engage in sexual displays on the ground. Breeding rates, although variable, seem to peak following rains. Eggs are deposited in still, temporary or permanent shallow ponds or pools. The eggs are light gray in color. In Oklahoma, most clutches found contained 4000-6500 eggs, but some with fewer than 200. Hatching occurs in 5 to 20 days and larvae transform about three months after eggs are deposited. When clutches are lain in late summer or early fall, larvae may overwinter and wait until the following spring to metamorphose. Tadpoles are tan and nondescript without distinct color patterns (BISON-M 1997).

• Key Reproductive Features
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Behavior

Call:

The call is distinguishable from Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) on the basis of call duration and pulse repetition rate. The mating call has a pulse rate of 3/sec and is usually described as 2 or 3 distinct "chucks" (Conant 1991).

• Key Behaviors
• motile

Food Habits

The plains leopard frog feeds on a variety of insects. They mostly use the sit and wait strategy. Once prey items have been sighted, they will stalk and seize them. The plains leopard frog will also actively forage either terrestrially or at the waters edge. They often forage away from water at night after a summer rain (BISON-M 1997).

Conservation Status

Named an animal of special concern in Indiana

• IUCN Red List

  Least Concern
  More information

Other Comments

Lithobates blairi was previously believed to be a conspecific of the northern leopard frog. In 1973, the plains leopard frog was described as a separate species. Some previous names of L. blairi include Rana pipiens brachycephala, Rana pipiens pipiens, Rana pipiens berlandieri, and Rana halecina. The plains leopard frog's main predators are raccoons, skunks, opossums, and the western gartner snake. Also, with the introduction of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) into Colorado, L. blairi numbers have decreased. The major threats on their population seem to be habitat destruction and predation by bullfrogs (BISON-M 1997).

Contributors

Trudy Kuhrt (author), Michigan State University, James Harding (editor), Michigan State University.

References

BISON-, M. 1997. "(Biota Information System of New Mexico database)" (On-line). Accessed (Date Unknown) at www.fw.vt.edu/fishex/nmex_main/species/020040.htm.

Conant, R. 1991. Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians of Easter/Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co..