Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderAnura (Frogs and Toads)
- FamilyRanidae (Typical Frogs)
- GenusLithobates (American Water Frogs)
- SpeciesLithobates sphenocephalus (Southern Leopard Frog)
About the Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus or Rana sphenocephala, commonly known as the southern leopard frog, is a medium-sized anuran in the family Ranidae (the true frogs). The southern leopard frog is one of the 36 species currently or formerly classified in the Rana genus found in North America. It is native to eastern North America from Kansas to New Jersey to Florida. It is also an introduced species in some areas.
This frog is up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long. Males at sexual maturity average 52.9 mm (2.08 in) snout to vent length and females average 63.8 mm (2.51 in) SVL. It is green or brown in color with a yellowish ridge along each side of the back. Rounded dark spots occur on the back and sides; a light spot is seen on each tympanum. The male has larger fore limbs than the female. The breeding male's vocal sacs are spherical when inflated. The call is described as a "ratchet-like trill", "chuckling croak", or a "squeaky balloon-like sound".
The larva is mottled, and the eyes are positioned on the top of the head. It grows to 7.6 cm (3.0 in) in length before maturing. The female lays an egg mass that is "baseball-sized" when close to hatching time, and contains up to 1,500 eggs... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Southern Leopard Frog in Congaree National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Congaree National Park
Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
River Frog
Lithobates heckscheri
Southern Toad
Anaxyrus terrestris
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
Squirrel Tree Frog
Dryophytes squirellus
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Gastrophryne carolinensis
Pine Wood Treefrog
Dryophytes femoralis
Eastern Spadefoot
Scaphiopus holbrookii
Southern Cricket Frog
Acris gryllus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Southern Leopard Frog in Congaree National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Leopard Frog sighting in Congaree National Park, based on 41 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Southern Leopard Frog in Congaree National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Southern Leopard Frog in Congaree National Park in our monthly data.