(Columbia Spotted Frog)
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(Columbia Spotted Frog) |
| COMMON NAME: Columbia Spotted
Frog
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rana luteiventris STATUS: Federal- Candidate Species; FS- Sensitive; Idaho- Species of Special concern; Utah- Conservation species; Nevada- Protects under Nevada Revised Statutes. RANKING: Global-Apparently secure; Idaho- Apparently secure; Utah and Nevada- Not provided; Wyoming- Vulnerable FOREST PRESENT: Bridger-Teton, Humboldt-Toiyable,
Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Targhee, Wasatch-Cache
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DESCRIPTION: The Columbia Spotted Frog can be identified by the diffuse edged black spots on the back, the light colored strip on the upper jaw, complete webbing on the hind feet, pointed snout and upturned eyes. Their skin isn't completely smooth and adults have yellow or reddish tinted ventral surfaces on the legs and lower abdomen. Adults can grow to 3 1/2 inches in length. Males are smaller than females and have swollen thumbs.
The species was previously classified as R. pretiosa but on September 19, 1997 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed the common and scientific names of Wasatch Front, West Desert (Utah), and the Great Basin population (Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon) to Columbia Spotted Frog (R. luteiventris).
LIFE HISTORY: The Columbia Spotted
Frog resides in mountainous areas in or near cold, slow moving streams,
springs or marshes, ponds and small lakes where emergent vegetation is
not extensive. It is diurnal and may cross land areas in the spring
and summer after breeding. It can be found in habitats ranging from
sagebrush benches to subalpine forests at elevations up to about 10,000
feet.
BREEDING: The Columbia Spotted Frog
is an early breeder, beginning as soon as snow/ice melt permits, which
ranges from February to July depending on location. The pigmented
eggs are deposited in softball clumps of 150-2,000 eggs that float on the
surface. Several females may use the same site for egg deposition
and each female may lay up to 3,000 eggs.
DIET: While there is no information
in literature, Spotted Toad larvae probably feed on detritus, plant tissue
and organic debris. Adults are opportunistic feeders consuming insects,
mollusks, worms and snails. They may feed on tadpoles and frogs.
VOICE: The call is a series of 4-50
faint, low pitched clicks that increase in intensity and last up to 10
seconds. Calls are given mostly during the day and occasionally underwater.
It can be imitated by clicking the tongue against the top of the mouth.
USDA,
Forest Service
Federal
Building
324
25th Street
Ogden,
Utah 84401