Relict leopard frog
Species of amphibian
The relict leopard frog (Lithobates onca, formerly Rana onca) is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, endemic to the United States.
01Description
The vocalizations of the relict leopard frog have been described as a "low rumbling 'snore'." Individuals measure 4.4-8.4 cm (1.7-3.3 in), and have a narrow, brown-colored body with darker spots and a beige-colored streak on the upper lip. Relict leopard frogs are most nocturnal.
02Distribution and habitat
Its historic range is along the Colorado River in extreme northwestern Arizona, and adjacent Nevada and southwestern Utah, although true to its name, its present range seems to be restricted to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada, rendering it extirpated in Arizona and Utah. Its natural habitat is freshwater springs and their outlets.
03Conservation
In the mid-20th century, the relict leopard frog was declared to be extinct. The species was rediscovered in the 1990s in the Virgin River and Muddy River watersheds in Nevada. It is threatened by habitat loss to agriculture and water development as well as invasive species.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Relict leopard frog”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Relict leopard frog 6-13-21 - 51245886015.jpg by Monkeystyle3000, CC BY 2.0
- Relict leopard frog tadpole 2.jpg by Monkeystyle3000, CC BY 2.0
- Relict leopard frog egg mass.jpg by Monkeystyle3000, CC BY 2.0
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