Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
Northern Leopard Frog 2
Identification
The leopard frog can be identified by its markings, colors, and size. The background color of the frog varies from a bright green to a dark greenish brown or even just brown. There are rows of circular brown or black spots bordered with white or yellow lines down upper and side surfaces of the head as well as the body and appendages. This is different from other frogs that live in this region: pickerel frog. The other frog species have rectangular spots and have red-orange coloring rather than the green-brown of the leopard frog.
Niche
Energy Role
The leopard frog is a consumer because it eats other organisms to get its energy. The leopard frog eats almost anything that will fit into its mouth. Most commonly it will eat food such as, beetles, ants, flies, worms, smaller frogs (including its own species), and even birds and garter snakes. The leopard frog doesn’t just eat other animals, other animals eat leopard frogs. Animals such as, herons, raccoons, snakes, and owls. Leopard frogs are also brought to the kitchen. Some of us eat frog legs and they might just be a leopard frogs leg! Leopard frogs are important to us because we eat them to give us energy to get through the day.
Other Roles in the Ecosystem
In addition to being an important food source in their ecosystem, leopard frogs play some more important roles. For example, they keep insect populations in check.
Sources:
1.http://www.paherps.com/herps/frogs-toads/northern_leopard_frog/
2.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/northern-leopard-frog/
3.http://www.smm.org/warnernaturecenter/animals/leopardfrog
Sources and Credits
- (c) Stylurus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/79039057@N00/2668826479
- Adapted by mtastudent from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithobates_pipiens
