Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

While it’s spots give it a leopard-like appearance, this frog also makes a similar growling sound.

Habitat 

Northern Leopard Frogs can be found in marshes, swamps, and slow-moving streams, in the central and eastern parts of North America. In summer they may even be found in grassy areas, even urban lawns.

Food 

Insects, worms, and even other smaller frogs, are all part of the diet of Northern Leopard Frogs.

Behaviour  

Breeding in spring, up to 6500 eggs are laid in the water. Tadpoles continue to develop in the same places for 70 to 110 days. They can reach a length of 11 cm (4.3 in), making them one of the larger frog species in North America. In northern areas, they hibernate for winter by changing their body chemistry to resist cold and go for an extended period of inactivity. Several larger mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish all feed on Northern Leopard Frogs

Conservation  

While overall Northern Leopard Frogs are still abundant, they have declined in parts of their range. Habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, drought, disease, and introduced predatory fish, are all challenges to their success.

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