Northern Leopard Frog

Northen Leopard Frog

Scientific Name: Lithobates pipiens
(Formerly: Rana pipiens)
Family: Ranidae

Description and Size

  • Slimly, slightly granular skin
  • Extremely long hind legs
  • Prominent continuous lines (dorsolateral fold) that extends from head to the rear of the body on either side of the body
  • Total length: 5.0-11.1 cm (2.0-4.4 in)
  • Back color: green with brown or grey
  • Spots: dark colored, outlined in white
  • Belly color: white

Habitat

  • Wet meadows
  • Semi-permanent bodies of water
  • Cattle stock tanks

Diet

  • Aquatic vegetation (larvae)
  • Aquatic bacterial colonies (larvae)
  • Arthropods
  • Worms

Northern Leopard Frog Call

Click here to listen

Life History

  • Mostly nocturnal, can be diurnal (Blomquist and Hunter Jr., 2007)
  • Active season: March – October
  • Breeding season: Mid-March – June
  • Lays eggs
  • 600-6000 eggs per female (Corn and Livo, 1989)

Range

Northern Leopard Frog NE

Most common range within the last 50 years and does not include outliers. For more info email dferraro1@unl.edu.