# Southern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates sphenocephalus*) The Southern Leopard Frog is a fun and spotted frog that loves to hop around in wet areas. It has a beautiful green and brown color that helps it blend in with its surroundings. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 29 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Southern Leopard Frog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/S%C3%BCdlicher_Leopardfrosch_%28Lithobates_sphenocephalus%29%252C_Vorderansich.jpg&width=800) Photo: Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S%C3%BCdlicher_Leopardfrosch_%28Lithobates_sphenocephalus%29%252C_Vorderansich.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Leopard Frog is typically green or brown with distinct dark, rounded spots across its back and sides. It has prominent light-colored dorsolateral folds that run from behind its eyes down its back. A pale ridge usually marks its upper jaw. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Ranidae - **Genus:** Lithobates ## Interesting facts - Tadpoles sometimes eat algae, helping to keep their pond homes cleaner. - Their 'squeak' alarm call sounds surprisingly like a deflating balloon! - These clever frogs can slightly change their skin color to match their surroundings. - They inflate their bodies to look bigger and scare away potential attackers! ## Special abilities - **Super Leaper:** Southern Leopard Frog can leap up to 2 meters (6 feet) because this helps them escape predators quickly and catch prey. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Southern Leopard Frog has spotted skin that helps them blend perfectly into grassy pond edges, hiding from hungry birds. - **Skin Breather:** Southern Leopard Frog can stay underwater for extended periods because they absorb oxygen through their moist skin. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-9 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1000-7000 - **Metamorphosis:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding Hungry hunters, Southern Leopard Frogs snap up insects and other small creatures with their sticky tongue. - **Age differences:** Tadpoles eat algae and decaying plant matter, while adults primarily hunt insects and small invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Crickets, Grasshoppers, Flies, Spiders, Worms, Small snails - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Gartersnake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Gartersnakes hunt these frogs in wetland habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) — Egrets stalk shallow waters to prey on adult frogs. - **Eats:** [Common Green Darner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-green-darner) (*Anax junius*) — Dragonfly nymphs prey on young frog tadpoles underwater. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult frogs actively hunt and eat mosquito adults. - **Hunts:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus assimilis*) — Crickets are a primary food source for adult leopard frogs. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [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. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching frogs, and don't try to catch them unless you're with an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Leopard 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 Southern Leopard Frog? 5-9 cm ### How much does Southern Leopard Frog weigh? 0.01-0.03 kg ### How long does Southern Leopard Frog live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Southern Leopard Frog move? 15 km/h ### What does Southern Leopard Frog eat? Hungry hunters, Southern Leopard Frogs snap up insects and other small creatures with their sticky tongue. ### Where is Southern Leopard Frog usually found? Wetlands ### How does Southern Leopard Frog hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Gloucester Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gloucester-downtown-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Louisiana Purchase State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/louisiana-purchase-state-park) — Arkansas, US · State Park - [Robert Beaty Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/robert-beaty-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Secessionville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/secessionville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District [View all places to see Southern Leopard Frog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-leopard-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: [Southern Leopard Frog: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-leopard-frog)