Rio Grande Leopard Frog
Lithobates berlandieri
Adult length 2.25-4.5 inches. Dorsal surface coloring occurs in shades of gray, green, and brown, and is covered in irregular dark brown spots with olive green or tan edg…
How to identify
Adult length 2.25-4.5 inches. Dorsal surface coloring occurs in shades of gray, green, and brown, and is covered in irregular dark brown spots with olive green or tan edges. Dorsolateral folds in front of the groin are prominent and pale yellow in color. Ventral side is cream colored with pale yellow coloring around upper thighs.
Range
Southwestern United States to central Mexico. Range extends north from central Texas and south to Veracruz, Mexico. West into New Mexico and east to Texas.
Habitat
Primarily aquatic. Found mostly in streams and rivers but may also live near springs, ponds, agricultural water stores, and ditches. Fossorial during winter.
Variations
Males: Well-developed external vocal sacs and obvious vestigial oviducts.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Lithobates
Greek for rock (litho-) climber (bates).
Origin
Sources
- Linnaeus, 1758. Syst. Nat., 10th ed., Vol. 1, p. 210 ↗
Rana. Linnaeus, 1758 - Syst. Nat., 10th ed., Vol. 1, p. 210
Species epithet
berlandieri
Honoring Jean Louis Berlandier.
Origin
Honors
Sources
- Baird, 1859. Report U.S. Mex. Bound. Survey, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, Rept., p. 27, pl. 36, figs. 7-10 ↗
Rana berlandieri. Baird, 1859 - Report U.S. Mex. Bound. Survey, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, Rept., p. 27, pl. 36, figs. 7-10
- (Agassiz, 1857). Contr. Nat. Hist. U. S., Vol. 1, p. 447; Vol. 2, pl. 3, figs. 17-19 ↗
Gopherus berlandieri. (Agassiz, 1857) - Contr. Nat. Hist. U. S., Vol. 1, p. 447; Vol. 2, pl. 3, figs. 17-19
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Size
5.7 to 11.4 cm
Range
Southwestern United States to central Mexico. Range extends north from central Texas and south to Veracruz, Mexico. West into…
Habitat
Primarily aquatic. Found mostly in streams and rivers but may also live near springs, ponds, agricultural water stores, and d…
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap