Southern leopard frogs are found near freshwater habitats in their range. During summer they disperse from the water and settle in moist vegetation. These frogs can be found anywhere from 1 to 5 km from their aquatic habitats. Eggs and larvae develop in still, shallow water, occasionally in brackish water.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools
Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog
Other Habitat Features: suburban ; riparian
In addition to being a staple in the diet of many aquatic predators (great blue herons, river otters, grackles, southern water snakes, brown water snakes, northern black snakes, peninsular ribbon snakes, and water moccasins), humans also eat southern leopard frogs (particularly the legs). Lithobates sphenocephalus sphenocephalus is captured in large numbers to be used for fishing bait, scientific research, and classroom teaching.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Southern leopard frogs are slender frogs, with long legs and sharply pointed heads. They have prominent dorsolateral folds that extend from behind the eye to the hips. The tympanum is about the size of the eye and occasionally has a small white dot in the middle. The distinguishing feature of southern leopard frogs is the lack of digital pads on its toes. The back and sides are green and brown with distinct round spots. Average adult length is 80 mm. This species is sexually dimorphic: males tend to be smaller than females. Males also possess paired vocal sacs and enlarged thumbs and forearms to increase chances of successful reproduction.
Range length: 20 to 130 mm.
Average length: 80 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger; sexes shaped differently
Life expectancy in the wild remains unknown. The majority of southern leopard frogs probably do not survive their first year. Adults known to hibernate in northern parts of their range, suggest they can live at least 2 to 3 years. Other species of leopard frog average 6 to 9 years of age.
This species was known by the name Rana utricularia until the late 1990s.
Southern leopard frogs are found from New Jersey in the north and south through the Coastal Plain to Florida. The range extends westward through Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, eastern Iowa, eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Mature southern leopard frogs are primarily invertivores, feeding on terrestrial arthropods. Immature larvae are herbivorous, feeding on algae, plant tissue, and organic debris. Larger individuals will occasionally eat small vertebrates, although this is rare.
Animal Foods: mammals; amphibians; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; terrestrial worms
Plant Foods: wood, bark, or stems; algae
Other Foods: detritus
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods); herbivore (Folivore , Algivore)
Southern leopard frogs play a valuable role in the food chain. Birds, river otters, large fish, and many snake species prey on them. In turn, southern leopard frogs prey on smaller frogs, insects, and larvae.
The respiratory tracts of some ranid frogs are susceptible to infection by a group of lung worms.
Southern leopard frogs are raised and eaten by humans, particularly their large rear legs. Lithobates sphenocephalus sphenocephalus is also a common frog to be used for dissection by many science classes. These frogs eat large amounts of pest insects, such as mosquitoes.
Positive Impacts: food ; research and education; controls pest population
After heavy rains many frogs are killed on busy roads and highways. Also, a large chorus of frogs can be loud and sometimes be a disturbance at night in suburban areas.
Newly-hatched tadpoles are between 20 and 25 mm long. They eventually reach a length of 65 to 70 mm before transformation. The entire tadpole stage of life is usually around 90 days. The tadpole's tail bears dark spots when metamorphosis is imminent. Once fully transformed, the young frog will be approximately 20 mm long.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Listed as "Least Concern" in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
Southern leopard frogs use a short, guttural trill at rate of 10 to 12 per second. This sound is compared to chicken clucks or the sound made by rubbing your fingers across as balloon. They have paired vocal sacs that are spherical when inflated. This species uses a variety of calls in the breeding season. The call travels farther than those of related species. Males are also likely to use visual cues when competing for mates and tactile cues are used during mating.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic
Other Communication Modes: choruses
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Breeding is typically initiated by rain, prompting males to call to females. However, southern leopard frogs call during any month of the year, except July and August. Breeding calls are harsh, guttural croaks.
Mating System: polygynous
Breeding occurs in fall, winter, and early spring. Eggs are laid just below the water's surface in a firm cluster about 90 mm wide and 40 mm thick and containing several hundred eggs per cluster. Often breeding frogs will congregate and lay numerous clusters of eggs in a small area.
Breeding interval: Southern leopard frogs breed once annually.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs from November to March in the southern portion of their range and March to June in the northern parts of their range.
Range time to hatching: 53 to 60 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 3 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 4 to 6 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Rana spenochephala shows little to no parental investment in their offspring after laying an egg cluster. Once the eggs are laid, they are left to survive on their own.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement
