• scattered populations northward to northeastern Alberta; currently uncommon in extreme south; mostly absent in much of its former range especially in central Alberta.

Brief Description

• a medium-sized Rana species; continuous parallel dorsolateral folds from behind eye to hind limb.

Habitat

• open grasslands and meadows, streams, lakes, etc.; overwintering under rocks in water.

Feeding

• predatory; adults: insectivore; tadpoles: algae-eater.

Reproduction

• spawning April to May in ponds, lake margins; spherical mass of up to 6,000 eggs.

Status in Alberta

• RED LIST

• widespread in the past; severe decline in recent years; extirpated from North Saskatchewan River basin

Other Internet Resources

• northern leopard frog: Amphibians of Alberta Page, Alberta Environmental Protection

• Rana pipiens : The Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

• Northern Leopard Frog page: page maintained by Ray Rasmussen

• Rana pipiens : An Introduction to the Natural History of Frogs and Toads of Ohio, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, USA

• Rana pipiens : Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota, Northern Prairie Science Center, Jamestown, ND, USA

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.