Southern Leopard Frog - Rana sphenocephala

• Diagnostic Features:
  • Size: 2 to 3.5 inches (50 to 90 mm)
  • Color:
    • Brown or green, or combination
  • Other:
    • Long, pointed head
    • Dark spots on dorsum between light dorsolateral ridges and on sides of body
    • Spots are round and outlined by lighter color
    • Distinct light spot on tympanum
    • Light line on upper jaw
    • Belly white
    • Distinct dorsolateral folds extend full length of body
  • Sexual Dimorphism:
    • Males smaller than females
    • Males have paired vocal sacs
    • Males have enlarged forearms and thumbs
  • Similar species:
    • Pickerel Frogs have more angular dorsal spots and bright yellow or orange color on the concealed and ventral surfaces of the hindlegs
• Natural History:
  • Habitat:
    • This frog prefers shallow, freshwater habitats.
    • It is sometimes seen in brackish waters along the coasts.
    • It is well camouflaged in vegetated areas.
  • Behavior:
    • Nocturnal, it hides during the day in vegetation at the edge of the water.
    • It avoids predators by entering the water and swimming away underwater.
    • Typically jumps are high and in groups of threes
  • Breeding:
    • Breeding occurs 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)
    • Several hundred eggs to the cluster
    • Often breeding frogs congregate and lay numerous clusters of eggs in a small area.
    • Newly hatched tadpoles may school at first
• Voice: Sonogram : Call ( Jackson, & Burke Counties )
  • Short, guttural trill at rate of 10-12/second
  • Paired vocal sacs that are spherical when inflated
  • Has a variety of assorted call variations given during breeding compared to Pickerel Frog's single call, and calls carry better than that species.
• Tadpoles:
  • Newly hatched tadpoles about 20 to 25 mm long
  • Reach a length of 65 to 70 mm before transformation
  • Tadpole stage: 90 days
  • Tail bears prominent dark spots when metamorphosis is imminent
  • Transformed size: 20 mm
  • 
  • LTRF usually 2/3; regardless of size, stage or range
  • iris always with iridophores in life; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap ca. 0.7; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.5; P-1 without medial gap; midventral marginal papillae medium; few submarginal papillae laterally; dorsal fin originates near tail-body junction and forms low to medium arch; white lip line usually present; coloration variable from uniformly dark to uniformly pale to considerable subtle mottling, fins clear to boldly marked; usually a spring breeder in lentic, often temporary sites north of latitude of north-central Kentucky for R. pipiens and south of that latitude for R. sphenocephala (no accurate means of distinguishing between R. areolata and R. sphenocephala + R. pipiens and between R. pipiens and R. sphenocephala)
• Range:
  • In North America, this frog is found in southeastern United States, from as far north as New Jersey south and east to Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.
  • In Georgia, it is found throughout the state.

    

  • In Light Blue: Williamson, Gerald K. & Moulis, Robert A., Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia, Special Publication No. 3, Savannah Science Museum, Inc. Savannah, Georgia, 1994
  • In Green: Sound Recordings
  • In Yellow: From Both '94 study and Sound Recordings
  • In Magenta: Photograph, not found by '94, may or may not be sound record
  • In Medium Blue: Photograph and in '94 study, may or may not be sound record 
  • In Orange: County Record by other Herp Atlas Volunteers
  • In Red: US Distribution from various sources

June 28, 2003 - wwknapp@mindspring.com