Family: Ranidae, True Frogs view all from this family

Description 2-5" (5.1-12.7 cm). Slender and narrow-headed; green to brown, with large dark spots between light-colored dorsolateral ridges - ridges continuous to groin. Light stripe along upper jaw; typically, a light spot in center of eardrum.

Subspecies Florida Leopard Frog (R. s. sphenocephala), northern Florida to Florida Keys.
Southern Leopard Frog (R. s. utricularia), eastern seaboard from s. New York to c. Texas, north to c. Illinois and Indiana.
Some authorities do not recognize the Florida population as a separate subspecies.

Voice   Series of short throaty croaks. Males call while afloat or from land.

Breeding Year-round in southern areas, March to June in northern areas. Egg masses are laid in shallow water.

Habitat Any freshwater location. Wanders among moist vegetation in the summer, returns to freshwater ponds and streams and brackish marshes rest of year.

Range From s. New York to the Florida Keys, west to Texas and e. Oklahoma, north to ec. Kansas.

Discussion The most ubiquitous frog of the eastern states. Primarily nocturnal. During the day, it hides in grass or sedges or sunny banks. To elude a predator - such as a raccoon or waterbird - this frog dives into the water, makes a sharp turn while still submerged, and surfaces amid vegetation at the water's edge; meanwhile the predator continues to search in the direction of the original dive. This is the species most frequently hunted for frogs' legs by youngsters in the Southeast.