Rio Grande Leopard Frog

Pics from http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html

Here's our wiki on the Rio Grande Leopard Frog! Hope you enjoy it!

  Appearance:

The Rio Grande Leopard Frog is a small, angular frog that comes in the colors of pale brown and green. This frog has many spots of darker colored outlined by light rings. The males have a large vocal sac that when not inflated looks like a black slit under jaw. The frog has a thin light line above its upper jaw. (http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html)

 (pic from http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.berlandieri.html)

Habitat:

This frog is found in central, south, and west Texas, New Mexico, and some parts of Mexico. They live in arid regions, often near streams, brooks, creeks, and ponds.  (http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html)

 This is a picture of where the frog lives in Texas, found at http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html

Breeding:

The Rio Grande Leopard Frog breeds all year with rain. The egg masses are laid in the water on a plant.

( http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html )

  This is a picture of the eggs in the water from(http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html)

 Life Cycle:

 STEP 1: Egg

STEP 2: Tadpole

STEP 3: Tadpole with hind legs

STEP 4: Tadpole with fore legs (+ hind legs)

STEP 5: Tail shrinks

STEP 6: The grown frog is ready to start its adult life!

( http://www.tooter4kids.com/Frogs/life_cycle_of_frogs.htm )

This is summary picture for the information above we found at http://www.tooter4kids.com/Frogs/life_cycle_of_frogs.htm

 Diet:

These frogs eat insects, which are caught by the frogs long, sticky tongue. Rio Grande Leopard Frogs also eat a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic prey, including other frogs! (http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.berlandieri.html)

Call:

 The frog's call is a short, high pitched rattle that lasts less than a second.

( http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.berlandieri.html ) Click HERE

to listen to some REAL Rio Grande Leopard Frog call!

Predators: 

The Rio Grande Leopard Frog's predators are.....

• Snakes
• Other frogs
• Small animals (like hedgehogs, mice, etc.)
• Diving/swimming birds
• Lizards
• Sharptoothed fish

(http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/numbers.html)

Life Span:

 We couldn't really find an exact amount, because it is hard to calculate a frog's entire life span in the wild, and in captivity their life span might be lengthened (no predtadors) or shortened (unnatural). But in captivity frogs can live anywhere between 4-15 years! The longest lifespan entered was a European Common Toad (Bufo bufo ssp.) at 40 years!

( http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/longevity.html)

Fun Facts!

Here are 4 fun facts about the Rio Grande Leopard Frog...

1.They are nocturnal (sleeps during day, is up at night) although some might be up and about during the day

2.Scientific name - Rana Berlandieri

3. Burrows underground on hot days to escape the heat

4. Sometimes called the Mexican Leopard Frog

( 1-3 = http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/rana.berlandieri.html 4 = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Leopard_Frog)

Quiz!

 Here is our PowerPoint quiz we made just for you so you could test your knowledge!