Northern Leopard Frog

Description:

The northern leopard frog is a smooth-skinned green, brown, or sometimes yellow-green frog covered with large, oval dark spots, each of which is surrounded by a lighter halo. Adult body lengths range from 2 to 4.5 inches. Females are slightly larger than males. Leopard frogs will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths. They sit still and wait for prey to happen by, then pounce with their powerful legs. They eat beetles, ants, flies, worms, smaller frogs, including their own species, and even birds, and garter snakes. This species is similar to the Pickerel frog (Rana palustris) and the Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala). Leopard frogs don't mate until age two to three. In late April, male frogs begin calling to attract females.Females can lay more than 6,000 eggs which may vary from submerged egg masses in northern populations to a surface film of eggs in southern populations. The black eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation. By early August, the young frogs leave the water to feed on land.

Habitat:

Northern Leopard Frogs utilize many aquatic habitats, such as marshes, ponds, lakes, rivers, or streams. During warmer months, these frogs may leave the water and venture into fields or pastures to forage.