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Cristian-M — Leopard Frog 40D0021618

Published: 2008-08-21 14:55:28 +0000 UTC; Views: 421; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 0
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Description Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala)

Leopard frogs are also called meadow frogs or cow frogs. They are the archetypal "grass frogs" of North America, a collection of species within the true frog genus (Rana). They are generally very similar, green with prominent black spotting. They can be told apart by their distribution and certain rather subtle ecological, behavioral, 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 environmental 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 are mostly nocturnal, and carnivorous, consuming almost any kind of insect they can catch and fit in their mouth, including 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 around, 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.

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Comments: 6

jtp755 [2008-08-21 19:37:11 +0000 UTC]

I believe that may be the type of frog we have living under our porch...

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Cristian-M In reply to jtp755 [2008-08-21 20:51:56 +0000 UTC]

Lucky you!
Did you take pictures of it?

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jtp755 In reply to Cristian-M [2008-08-22 00:20:11 +0000 UTC]

Yeah. There are a few in my gallery.

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Cristian-M In reply to jtp755 [2008-08-22 14:00:04 +0000 UTC]

You're right, I've even ed one of them in July!

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jtp755 In reply to Cristian-M [2008-08-22 16:43:58 +0000 UTC]

heh

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arwenpandora [2008-08-21 18:21:22 +0000 UTC]

thank you for the information I have more respect for frogs now..

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