Rio Grande Leopard Frog
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The Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri) is a species of aquatic frog native to the southern United States in Texas and New Mexico, and south through to central Mexico. It is also sometimes referred to as the Mexican Leopard Frog. The epithet berlandieri is in honor of the Belgian naturalist Jean Louis Berlandier, who worked for the Mexican government on one of the first biological surveys of Texas.[link]
Description
The Rio Grande Leopard Frog grows from 2.25 to 4.5 inches in length. They are usually tan, brown or pale green in color with distinctive black spotting with prominent light colored ridges down either side of the back. Their nose is angular, and they have long powerful legs with webbed feet.Behavior
Primarily aquatic, and mostly nocturnal, though it can be often found during the day resting along the edge of the water. Despite their geographic range being mostly arid or semi-arid, they inhabit permanent water sources, such as streams, creeks and ponds. They are insectivorous, but like most frogs, will eat almost anything they can overpower and swallow. Mating occurs during the rainy periods of the spring and fall. The males give a rattling call which is loud enough to be heard a quarter mile or more away. Eggs are laid in large masses attached to aquatic vegetation.Taxonomy
The Rio Grande Leopard Frog was once considered a subspecies of the Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens, but was granted full species status due to distinctive morphological characteristics. Recent research has suggested reclassifying Leopard Frogs in their own genus, known as Pantherana, but the change is not widely accepted.Geographic range & status
Found from central Texas, to New Mexico (where it is listed as vulnerable), south through Mexico to Vera Cruz. It is easily confused, even by experts, with other species that share its range, such as the Plains Leopard Frog, Rana blairi. It is unknown whether hybridization occurs. The species has also been introduced to the Colorado River, in California and Arizona and is known to be expanding range south into Mexico in the state of Baja California. It is believed to be contributing to the population reduction of the Lowland Leopard Frog, Rana yavapaiensis, which is native to the region. This expansion of range is the primary factor in the Rio Grande Leopard Frog being classified as least concern, by the IUCN Red List.References
- [Amphibian Species of the World: Rana berlandieri]
- [California Herps: Rio Grande Leopard Frog]
- [Herps of Texas: Rana berlandieri]
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