Leopard frog
Encyclopedia
Leopard frogs, also called meadow frogs, are the archetypal "grass frog
s" of North America
, a collection of about 14 species
within the true frog
genus
Rana
. They are generally very similar, green with prominent black spotting (though actually more like that of a cheetah
than that of a leopard
). They can be told apart by their distribution and certain rather subtle ecological, behavior
al, morphological
and genetic
traits. Their range extends throughout temperate
and subtropical North America to northern Mexico
, with some species found even further south.
Once abundant in North America, their population has declined in recent years because of pollution
and deforestation
. Leopard frogs are often used as environment
al indicator species
because of their heightened sensitivity to chemical pollutants found in the air and water, and they are commonly used as dissection
specimens in biology
classrooms. They were subject of some pioneering studies in evolution
ary biology
in the 20th century, and continue to be of much interest to various disciplines of biology.
The Tsushima Brown Frog
, sometimes called Tsuschima Leopard Frog, is not very closely related to the leopard frogs.
Grass frog
"grass frogs" are usually members of the tree frog family , in particular of the genus Litoria.In most of the rest of the world, especially in North America and Europe, "grass frogs" are usually members of the true frog family , in particular of the genus Rana.The widespread African true frog...
s" of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a collection of about 14 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
within the true frog
True frog
The true frogs, family Ranidae, have the widest distribution of any frog family. They are abundant throughout most of the world, occurring on most continents except Antarctica...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Rana
Rana (genus)
Rana is a genus of frogs. Species include such archetypal pond frogs as the common frog of Europe, brown frogs, and the New and Old World true frogs, including the various species of leopard frogs and the American bullfrog. Members of this genus are found through much of Eurasia, North America,...
. They are generally very similar, green with prominent black spotting (though actually more like that of a cheetah
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
than that of a leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
). They can be told apart by their distribution and certain rather subtle ecological, behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
al, morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
traits. Their range extends throughout temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
and subtropical North America to northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, with some species found even further south.
Once abundant in North America, their population has declined in recent years because of pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
and deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. Leopard frogs are often used as environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
al indicator species
Indicator species
An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change...
because of their heightened sensitivity to chemical pollutants found in the air and water, and they are commonly used as dissection
Dissection
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the functions and relationships of its components....
specimens in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
classrooms. They were subject of some pioneering studies in evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ary biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
in the 20th century, and continue to be of much interest to various disciplines of biology.
Taxonomy
Leopard frogs were often grouped with the American bullfrog and relatives in the genus Lithobates. Lithobates, however, is no longer recognized as a genus by most authors.Species
Further species may exist in this famous cryptic species complexCryptic species complex
In biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of species which satisfy the biological definition of species—that is, they are reproductively isolated from each other—but whose morphology is very similar ....
- Rio Grande Leopard FrogRio Grande Leopard FrogThe Rio Grande Leopard Frog 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...
, Rana berlandieri - Plains Leopard FrogPlains Leopard FrogThe Plains Leopard Frog It is sometimes referred to as Blair's Leopard Frog, named after the noted zoologist and University of Texas professor, Dr. W. Frank Blair.- Description :...
, Rana blairi - Chiricahua Leopard FrogChiricahua Leopard FrogThe Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Rana chiricahuensis, is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. It is found in Mexico and the United States. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes,...
, Rana chiricahuensis - Vegas Valley Leopard FrogVegas Valley Leopard FrogThe Vegas Valley Leopard frog is a species of frog previously declared extinct. Once it occurred in the Las Vegas Valley, as well as Tule Springs, Clark County, southern Nevada, United States of America, at elevations between 370 and 760 m. It was believed to be the only frog endemic to the United...
, Rana fisheri - Northwest Mexico Leopard FrogNorthwest Mexico Leopard FrogThe Northwest Mexico Leopard Frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches....
, Rana magnaocularis - Island Leopard FrogIsland Leopard FrogThe Island Leopard Frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Nicaragua where it is known as rana leopardo isleña....
, Rana miadis - Transverse Volcanic Leopard FrogTransverse Volcanic Leopard FrogThe Transverse Volcanic Leopard Frog or Rana Neovolcánica is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Mexico....
, Rana neovolcanica - Guerreran Leopard FrogGuerreran Leopard FrogThe Guerreran Leopard Frog or Rana Guerrerense is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero, Mexico....
, Rana omiltemana - Relict Leopard FrogRelict Leopard FrogThe Relict Leopard Frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to the United States.Its natural habitat is freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss....
Rana onca - Northern Leopard FrogNorthern Leopard FrogThe Northern Leopard Frog is a species of leopard frog from the true frog family, native to parts of Canada and United States. It is the state amphibian of Minnesota and Vermont.-Physical description:...
, Rana pipiens - Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard FrogThe Southern Leopard Frog 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 :...
, Rana sphenocephala - Ramsey Canyon Leopard FrogRamsey Canyon Leopard FrogThe Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is found in the United States and possibly Mexico....
, Rana subaquavocalis - Tlaloc's Leopard FrogTlaloc's Leopard FrogThe Tlaloc's Leopard Frog or Rana De Tláloc is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitat is canals and ditches.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Rana tlaloci - Lowland Leopard FrogLowland Leopard FrogThe Lowland Leopard Frog, Rana yavapaiensis, is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is found in Mexico and the United States; in Spanish it is known as rana de Yavapai....
, Rana yavapaiensis
The Tsushima Brown Frog
Tsushima Brown Frog
The Tsushima Brown Frog, Rana tsushimensis, is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Japan. It is also called Tsushima Leopard Frog, though leopard frogs proper are related species from North America....
, sometimes called Tsuschima Leopard Frog, is not very closely related to the leopard frogs.
External links
- Leopard frog at Western Ecological Research Centre
- Leopard Frog Care Information at Caresheets.net
- Plains Leopard Frog - Rana blairi Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide