The Northern Leopard Frog

Northern leopard frog

The northern leopard frog  (Rana pipiens), once the most common amphibian in North America, has declined dramatically and is now red listed (endangered) in British Columbia and Canada. As well as predators, the frog is vulnerable to the chytrid fungus.

Map

Biodiversity Interactive Map - Northern Leopard Frog

Range

• North America: Range extends from the Great Slave Lake, Hudson Bay, and Labrador, Canada, south to southern New England, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Arizona, west to south-eastern British Columbia, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and eastern California.

• B.C.: Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and Bummer Flats

• Columbia Basin: as above

Habitat

• Wetland, riparian, stream, small lakes
• Require 3 distinct seasonal habitats: shallow open water for spring breeding, summer foraging grounds and deep water for hibernation over-winter
• Northern leopard frogs live in the vicinity of springs, slow streams, marshes, bogs, ponds, canals, flood plains, reservoirs, and lakes; usually they are in or near permanent water with rooted aquatic vegetation

Reproduction

Mating takes place between late April and early June in shallow open water. Males produce a unique call which consists of a series of snores, chuckles and grunts to attract females. Each female mates once, lays a single egg mass containing up to 7000 eggs, and leaves the pond; males probably mate more than once. Eggs hatch in 9 to 20 days and tadpoles metamorphose in mid-summer

Listing and Date

Threats to Species

• Habitat loss and degradation
• Environmental stress, pollution
• Disease (Chytridiomycosis), increased UV-B
• Introduction of non-native predatory species

Select Reports

• An Amphibian Inventory of the East Kootenay
• Population Monitoring and Recovery of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Southeast BC

Full Report Listing (most recent on top):

• A work in progress: Continuation of the Yaqan Nuki Wetland Rehabilitation
• An Amphibian Inventory of the East Kootenay
• Population Monitoring and Recovery of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Southeast BC, 2000 to 2005
• Northern Leopard Frog Recovery - CVWMA Fish Inventory
• Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Recovery: Captive rearing and reintroduction in Southeast British Columbia, 2003.
• Status of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area - 1998
• The Northern Leopard Frog Rana pipiens in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
• Status of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area

For more information on this species, visit The BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer and enter “northern leopard frog” in the Species Name field.