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Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Amphibia
Subclassis: Lissamphibia
Ordo: Anura
Familia: Ranidae
Genus: Lithobates
Species: Lithobates blairi
Name
Lithobates blairi (Mecham, Littlejohn, Oldham, Brown & Brown, 1973)
Type locality: "1. 6 km W New Deal, Lubbock Co[unty]., Texas", USA.
Holotype: UMMZ 131690.
Synonyms
Rana blairi Mecham et al. 1973
Rana (Rana) blairi — Dubois, 1981
Rana (Rana) blairi — Dubois, 1987
Rana (Pantherana) blairi — Dubois, 1992
Rana (Novirana, Sierrana, Pantherana, Scurrilirana) blairi — Hillis & Wilcox, 2005
Lithobates blairi — Frost et al. 2006
Lithobates (Lithobates) blairi — Dubois, 2006
Lithobates blairi — Crother, 2012
References
Crother, B.I. (2012). Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: Herpetological Circular no. 39. 92pp. PDF
Frost, D.R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R.H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., de Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M., & Wheeler W.C. 2006. The Amphibian Tree OF Life. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Number 297, 370 pp., 71 figures, 5 tables, 7 appendices PDF
Hillis, D.M. & Wilcox, T.P. 2005. Phylogeny of the New World true frogs (Rana). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34(2): 299–314. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.007 ResearchGate Reference page.
Hillis, D. M. (2007) Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 331–338. PDF fulltext
Mecham, J.S., Littlejohn, M.J., Oldham, R.S., Brown, L.E. & Brown, J.R. 1973. A new species of leopard frog (Rana pipiens complex) from the plains of the central United States. Occasional Papers. The Museum, Texas Tech University 18: 1–11. BHL. Reference page.
2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN: Lithobates blairi (Least Concern) Downloaded on 01 July 2008.
Vernacular names
English: Plains Leopard Frog
The Plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi)[1][2] It is sometimes referred to as Blair's leopard frog, named after the noted zoologist and University of Texas professor, Dr. W. Frank Blair.
Description
The Plains leopard frog grows from 2.0 to 4.3 in (5.1 to 10.9 cm) in length, and is typically brown in color. Their common name originates from the distinctive irregular, dark colored spotting on their backs. They have long, powerful legs, and are capable of leaping great distances.
Behavior
Although found throughout semiarid regions, the Plains leopard frog is almost always found in or very near permanent water sources, such as streams, creeks, and ponds. They are nocturnal, and primarily insectivorous, though they will eat almost anything they can overpower and swallow, including other frogs. They are shy animals, often fleeing beneath the water if approached.
Geographic distribution
The Plains leopard frog, as its name implies, is found throughout the Great Plains of the United States, from Indiana west across central and southern plains to South Dakota, south to Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, with a disjunct population in Arizona.
Conservation status
The Plains leopard frog Frog is fairly common throughout its range, and holds no special conservation status, except in the state of Indiana, where it is endangered.[3] This is probably because of the use of fertilizers and pesticides in farms located near this frog's habitats.
Footnotes
David M. Hillis (2007). "Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 42 (2): 331–338. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.08.001. PMID 16997582.
David M. Hillis & Thomas P. Wilcox (2005). "Phylogeny of the New World true frogs (Rana)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 34 (2): 299–314. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.007. PMID 15619443.
Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 April 2012
References
Amphibian Species of the World: Lithobates blairi
Animal Diversity Web: Lithobates blairi
Hillis, D. M.; Frost, J. S.; Wright, D. A. (1983). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the Rana pipiens complex: A biochemical evaluation". Systematic Zoology. 32 (2): 132–143. doi:10.2307/2413277. JSTOR 2413277.
Hillis, D. M. (1988). "Systematics of the Rana pipiens complex: Puzzle and paradigm". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 19: 39–63. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.19.110188.000351.
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