Alberta Herps
Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

• scattered in foothills and mountains; Waterton National Park in the south to about 55° N including Crowsnest Pass and Yellowhead Pass.

Brief Description

• medium-sized frog; more robust than Northern Leopard Frog; dark mask from nostril to tympanum.

Habitat

• highly aquatic; usually associated with permanent water bodies such as streams, ponds, lake margins; overwintering under water.

Feeding

• predatory; adults insectivorous, tadpoles algae-feeding.

Reproduction

• spawning: very early spring, as soon as thawing starts; clutch size: 700-1500 eggs; pectoral amplexus.

Status in Alberta

• BLUE LIST

• limited distribution; population status not known

Other Internet Resources

• spotted frog: Amphibians of Alberta Page, Alberta Environmental Protection

References

• Anonymous. 1996. The status of Alberta wildlife. Wildlife Management Division Report. Alberta Environmental Protection, Govertment of Alberta.

• Russell, A. P., and A. M. Bauer. in press. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta: A Field Guide and Primer of Boreal Herpetology. University of Calgary Press. 2nd Edition.