# Columbia Spotted Frog (*Rana luteiventris*) The Columbia Spotted Frog is a small, lively frog with beautiful spots on its skin. It loves to hop around in wetlands and is great at swimming in water! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Columbia Spotted Frog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rana_luteiventris.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rana_luteiventris.jpg) ## Appearance The Columbia Spotted Frog is a medium-sized frog, typically green, brown, or gray with irregular dark spots, often with a lighter center. It has smooth skin and a distinct cream-colored stripe along its upper jaw, which helps distinguish it from other similar frogs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Ranidae - **Genus:** Rana ## Interesting facts - Columbia Spotted Frogs hibernate underwater, sometimes buried in mud, to survive freezing winters! - Female frogs gather to lay their thousands of eggs together in huge communal masses! - Some tadpoles live as long as two years before finally becoming adult frogs! - These frogs have eyes on top of their heads, perfect for peeking out of the water! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Explorer:** Columbia Spotted Frogs can stay submerged for over 15 minutes, helping them hide from predators and ambush aquatic prey. - **Spot-On Camouflage:** Columbia Spotted Frogs have uniquely patterned skin with dark, light-centered spots that help them disappear against riverbeds and pond bottoms. - **Lightning Tongue:** Columbia Spotted Frogs can rapidly extend their sticky tongue to snatch insects and other small prey with incredible speed. - **Cold-Proof Skin:** Columbia Spotted Frogs have a special metabolism that helps them thrive in very cold, high-elevation mountain streams. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-10 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 1.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 500-2000 - **Metamorphosis:** 90-730 days ## Diet & Feeding These frogs munch on insects and other small invertebrates they find in the water or on land. - **Age differences:** Tadpoles eat algae and detritus; adults become carnivores, preying on insects and other invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** flies, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, snails, small crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — A common predator of frogs and their tadpoles. - **Eaten by:** Cutthroat Trout (*Oncorhynchus clarkii*) — Larger fish prey on tadpoles and small frogs in aquatic habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — These raptors hunt adult frogs in open wetland areas. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistic predators, raccoons will catch frogs near water bodies. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch frogs from a distance and never try to catch them, as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Columbia Spotted Frog? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Columbia Spotted Frog? 4-10 cm ### How much does Columbia Spotted Frog weigh? 0.01-0.03 kg ### How long does Columbia Spotted Frog live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Columbia Spotted Frog move? 1.5 km/h ### What does Columbia Spotted Frog eat? These frogs munch on insects and other small invertebrates they find in the water or on land. ### Where is Columbia Spotted Frog usually found? Wetlands ### How does Columbia Spotted Frog hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Belly River Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belly-river-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-glacier-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/laurance-s-rockefeller-preserve) — Wyoming, US · Nature Reserve - [Little Tom Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-tom-mountain) — Montana, US · Nature Reserve - [Nancy Greene Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nancy-greene-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Grohman Narrows Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grohman-narrows-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Columbia Spotted Frog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/columbia-spotted-frog) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Columbia Spotted Frog: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/columbia-spotted-frog)