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(Rana blairi)
Identification: Upper side brown, with large rounded or oval dark spots that usually have a light border; skin somewhat rough or nodulated; eardrum usually with distinct light spot; back with two parallel ridges, the rear ends of which are inset toward the middle; hind toes with extensive webbing; rear of thigh with dark reticulation; head and body length up to about 11 cm (4.3 inches), adults usually about 7–10 cm (2.8-3.9 inches).
Mature male: base of innermost toe of front feet
swollen during breeding season; expanded vocal sacs, one on each side, extend
above front leg.
Breeding call : A series of short “clucks” followed by a few low
chuckling or grunting sounds, together lasting usually less than two
seconds.
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Larvae: Upper side brown, olive, or gray, paler than northern
leopard frog; spots on upper side circular; rear surface of thighs with dark
crossbars when frog is near metamorphosis; snout rounded when viewed from above;
mouth slightly behind tip of snout; eyes high on head; iris medium-gold, with no
dorsal or ventral dark spots; tail fin high, 70–90 percent of body length;
usually 2-3 rows of tiny teeth on upper lip, 3 rows on lower lip; tooth row
closest to jaw on upper lip may consist of just a few tiny teeth on one or both
sides of jaws); large larvae average around 6 cm (2.4 inches) long. |
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Eggs: Deposited in rounded clusters often 5–15 cm
(2-6 inches) in diameter and including up to several hundred eggs (masses
smaller than those of northern leopard frog); usually attached to
vegetation in shallow water.
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Colorado Distribution:
Great Plains portion of the
Arkansas River drainage in southeastern Colorado and the Republican River
drainage in northeastern Colorado. Locally common.
Habitat: Vicinity of streams, natural and
artificial ponds, reservoirs, creek pools, irrigation ditches, and other bodies
of water in plains grassland, sandhills, stream valleys, and canyon bottoms. May
disperse far from water during wet, mild weather.
Life History: Breeds in spring or summer in permanent,
semipermanent, and temporary ponds, and in stream pools and backwaters lacking a
strong current. Larvae metamorphose into small frogs as early as June or as late
as September.
Note: This species hybridizes with the
northern leopard frog in some areas, so some frogs have mixed identification
characteristics.
Revised: July, 24 2003