Description

Normally leopard frogs are green or greenish-brown with creamy–white undersides, and the skin is very smooth and moist. Except for the underbelly the entire frog is covered in well-defined round dark spots that have light borders around them. There is a light-colored strip or glandular ridge that runs from the eyes to the tail. This glandular ridge separates the back from the sides of the body. Frogs that have just metamorphized have distinct brown color with black spots. Frogs living in the southern regions appear pale or yellow in color (Cuellar 1968), (Dixon 2000).

A Northern leopard frog can be identified by spots that are rounded by light borders (Conant 1997). With the Southern leopard frog it can be distinguished by a light spot in the center of the tympanum, and a longer, pointed head (Conant 1997). The Plains leopard frog has a shorter head, and a distinct light line along upper jaw (Conant 1997). Also, the Plains have dorsa lateral ridges interrupted just anterior to groin and inset medially (Conant 1997). The Rio Grande leopard frog is very similar to the Plains leopard frog except that the line along under the upper jaw is less prominent, and it stops anterior to eye (Conant 1997). The Pickerel frog has square spots running in two rows down its back Conant 1997).