They go through several stages of life before they become adult frogs and … The two folds along the sides of the back are narrow, distinctly raised, yellow or tan, and run continuously to the groin. A leopard frog (at times known as a meadow frog) may fall under any of the14 varieties of frogs included in the real genus of frogs in the family Ranidae and the leopard frog Rana (genus Rana) are generally green in color, with conspicuous black spots, which at times resemble the pattern of a leopard. In order for the adults frogs to be able to reproduce, they have to be in a healthy state of health and be in a good condition to be successful at reproduction. Reproduction. The frog starts out as a egg. Life Stage. About 5-8 years later, it lays (if that is the right word in this situation) and then dies. Soon, it climbs out of the water and later evolves into a adult. Slowly, it grows feet and arms. Some ideal breeding areas include beaver ponds, quiet waters along streams and rivers, agricultural ditches, flooded fields, permanent ponds and lakes, and marshes. LIfe Cycle Cubs are small and helpless when they are born, and do not open their eyes until they are about 7 days old. The reproduction takes place after hibernation, usually between March and July. The head is long and the snout is pointed. At 2 months old, cubs are ready to eat solid food. this takes about 2 months overall. The northern leopard frog is medium-sized with brown or green ground color and, on the back, large, round, black spots surrounded by light rings. Alternate and Previous Names (Synonyms) Rana utricularia - Southern Leopard Frog (Conant & Collins 1998) Rana pipiens sphenocephala - Southern Meadow Frog (Southern Leopard Frog, Spring Frog, Spotted Frog, Water Frog, Shad Frog) (Wright and Wright 1949) Life Cycle - Complete metamorphosis consisting of three stages: egg, larvae (or tadpole), and adult. The reproduction of the northern leopard frog is external and aquatic. The southern leopard frog is a medium-sized frog with rounded or oblong spots on the back. Southern leopard frogs elude predators by jumping into nearby water and swimming underwater for some distance, while the predator continues looking near the point of entry into the water. Northern leopard frogs are so named for the array of irregularly shaped dark spots that adorn their backs and legs. Southern leopard frogs have a lifespan of 3 years. Life Cycle: Southern leopard frogs are found in a variety of habitats, including shorelines of temporary ponds, woodland pools, wet meadows, and lake edges with heavy vegetation. It has two wide skin folds running continuously down each side of the back all the way to the groin. The southern leopard frog is classified as a nongame species with no open season. It is unlawful for any person to take, or have in possession, any nongame mammal or bird unless that person has a collection license or is collecting fewer than 5 reptiles or fewer than 25 amphibians that are not endangered, threatened, or special concerned species. The frog reproduction cycle involve external or internal fertilisation; the eggs might be laid in the water, or they might not, and some species give birth to live young. Seasonal Changes - Leopard frogs burrow into the mud of ponds and lakes to hibernate for the winter. Reproduction/Life Cycle. The Life Cycle of a Frog Frogs are amphibians, which means that they can live in water or on land. Life Span. The overall color is green, greenish brown, or light brown with some green on the back. A few weeks later, it grows into a hatchling and about 9 days later, it becomes a tadpole. Frogs introduced into California are thought to be L. s. utricularia, but this is not certain. The northern leopard frog is a smooth-skinned green, brown, or sometimes yellow-green frog covered with large, oval dark spots, each of which is surrounded … Aquatic larvae metamorphose in summer or fall, or may overwinter and metamorphose the following year. There usually is a large, round, dark spot on the short, blunt nose.