BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary
Rana luteiventris
Columbia Spotted Frog
| Scientific Name: | Rana luteiventris Thompson, 1913 | ||||||||||
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| English Name: | Columbia Spotted Frog | ||||||||||
| Classification / Taxonomy | |||||||||||
| Scientific Name - Concept Reference: | Green, D. M., H. Kaiser, T. F. Sharbel, J. Kearsley, and K. R. McAllister. 1997. Cryptic species of spotted frogs, Rana pretiosa complex, in western North America. Copeia 1997:1-8. | ||||||||||
| Classification Level: | Species | ||||||||||
| Taxonomy Comments: | This EST is for the spotted frog of interior BC. The spotted frog that occurs in the lower mainland is now known as R. PRETIOSA, the Oregon Spotted Frog, under the code AAABH01180. | ||||||||||
| Species Group: | Vertebrate Animal | ||||||||||
| Species Code: | A-RALU | ||||||||||
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| Conservation Status / Legal Designation | |||||||||||
| Global Status: | G4 (Jan 2008) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Status: | S4S5 (Mar 2022) | ||||||||||
| BC List: | Yellow | ||||||||||
| Provincial FRPA list: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Wildlife Act: | |||||||||||
| COSEWIC Status: | Not at Risk (May 2000) | ||||||||||
| SARA Schedule: | |||||||||||
| General Status Canada: | 4 - Secure (2005) | ||||||||||
| Ecology & Life History | |||||||||||
| General Description: | |||||||||||
| Global Reproduction Comments: | Breeds in February at sea level in British Columbia, mid-March at 1395 m in Utah, May-June at 2377 m in Wyoming; generally as early as winter thaw permits. In northeastern Oregon, eggs were not deposited on days when maximum water temperature was below 9.4 C; at 18 sites, duration of egg deposition ranged from 1 to 20 days (Bull and Shepherd 2003). Females may lay egg masses in communal clusters. Eggs hatch in 3-21 days (12-21 days in northeastern Oregon, Bull and Shepherd 2003), depending on temperature. Metamorphosis occurs by fall or tadpoles may overwinter and metamorphose the following spring. Sexually mature in 2-6 years, depending on location and elevation (matures at greater age at high elevations). In Wyoming, individual females breed yearly at low elevations, every 2-3 years at high elevations (Nussbaum et al. 1983). | ||||||||||
| Global Ecology Comments: | In the Toiyabe Range in Nevada, Reaser (2000) captured 887 individuals over three years, with average mid-season density ranging from 2 to 24 frogs per 150 m of habitat. | ||||||||||
| Migration Characteristics: (Global / Provincial) | |||||||||||
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Nonmigrant: Local Migrant: Distant Migrant: Within Borders Migrant: |
Y / Y / N / na / |
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| Global Migration Comments: | In central Idaho, frogs moved up to 1030 m from breeding sites to reach summer habitats; females (the more mobile sex) moved an average of less than 500 m from breeding or overwintering sites to summer foraging areas; many frogs remained at or near breeding ponds; some males moved up to 1.5 km between lakes that had no riparian corridor; a few frogs moved up to at least 1.8 km away from breeding ponds, but the nature of these long movements is uncertain (Pilliod et al. 2002). Pilliod et al. (in Koch et al. 1997) reported that individual high mountain lake populations of R. luteiventris in Idaho are actually interdependent and are part of a larger contiguous metapopulation that includes all the lakes in the basin. In Nevada, Reaser (1996; in Koch et al. 1997) determined that one individual of R. luteiventris traveled over 5 km in a year. In a three-year study of R. luteiventris movement within the Owyhee Mountain subpopulation of the Great Basin population in southwestern Idaho, Engle (2000) PIT-tagged over 1800 individuals but documented only five (of 468) recaptures over 1,000 m from their original capture point. All recaptures were along riparian corridors and the longest distance between capture points was 1,765 m. Although gender differences were observed, 88 percent of all movement documented was less than 300 m from the original capture point. Engle (2001) found a two-year-old individual 6.5 km downstream from its natal pond (a year after being marked and released). Though movements of up to 6.5 km have been recorded, these frogs generally stay in wetlands and along streams within 1 km of their breeding pond (Turner 1960, Hollenbeck 1974, Bull and Hayes 2001, Pilliod et al. 2002). Frogs in isolated ponds may not leave those sites (Bull and Hayes 2001). |
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| Habitats: (Type / Subtype / Dependence) |
Lakes / Lake / Obligate
Lakes / Pond/Open Water / Obligate Riparian / Gravel Bar / Facultative - frequent use Riparian / Riparian Forest / Facultative - frequent use Riparian / Riparian Herbaceous / Facultative - frequent use Riparian / Riparian Shrub / Facultative - frequent use Stream/River / Stream/River / Obligate Wetland / Bog / Obligate Wetland / Fen / Obligate Wetland / Marsh / Obligate Wetland / Swamp / Obligate |
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| Global Habitat Comments: | Highly aquatic; rarely found far from permanent quiet water; usually occurs at the grassy/sedgy margins of streams, lakes, ponds, springs, and marshes (Hodge 1976, Licht 1986). May disperse into forest, grassland, and brushland during wet weather, and may traverse uplands to reach wintering sites (Pilliod et al. 2002). Uses stream-side small mammal burrows as shelter (Blomquist and Tull 2002). Overwintering sites in the Great Basin include undercut stream banks and spring heads (K. Hatch, pers. comm., cited by Blomquist and Tull 2002). Wintering sites in central Idaho included deep lakes (Pilliod et al. 2002). Breeds usually in shallow water in ponds or other quiet waters. See Munger et al. (1998) for quantitative information on habitat in southwestern Idaho. | ||||||||||
| Food Habits: |
Herbivore:Immature
Invertivore: Adult |
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| Global Food Habits Comments: | Opportunistic. Eats a wide variety of insects as well as different mollusks, crustaceans, and arachnids. Larvae eat algae, organic debris, plant tissue, and minute organisns in water. | ||||||||||
| Global Phenology: |
Diurnal: Adult, Immature
Hibernates/aestivates: Adult, Immature |
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| Global Phenology Comments: | May move overland in spring and summer after breeding. Inactive in winter in north. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Phenology: (1st half of month/ 2nd half of month) |
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| Colonial Breeder: | Y | ||||||||||
| Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): | 10/ / | ||||||||||
| Elevation (m) (min / max): |
Global:
Provincial: |
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| Distribution | |||||||||||
| Endemic: | N | ||||||||||
| Global Range Comment: | Extreme southeastern Alaska, southwestern Yukon (Slough 2002), northern British Columbia, and western Alberta south through Washington east of the Cascades, eastern Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana to Nevada (disjunct, Mary's, Reese, and Owyhee river systems), southwestern Idaho (disjunct), Utah (disjunct, Wasatch Mountains and west desert), and western and north-central (disjunct) Wyoming (Green et al. 1996, 1997; Stebbins 2003). Disjunct populations occur on isolated mountains and in arid-land springs. Elevational range extends from near sea level to about 3,048 meters (10,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003). The Wasatch Front population (R. luteiventris pop. 1) occurs in isolated springs or riparian wetlands in Juab, Sanpete, Summit, Utah, Tooele, and Wasatch counties; extirpated from the Salt Lake Valley and tributaries to the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake (USFWS 2002). Currently, there are seven localized populations that comprise the Wasatch Front population or DPS. The largest known concentration is currently in the Heber Valley; the remaining six locations are Jordanelle/Francis, Springville Hatchery, Holladay Springs, Mona Springs Complex/Burraston Ponds, Fairview, and Vernon (USFWS 2002). The West Desert (Bonneville) population (R. luteiventris pop. 2) occurs in eastern Nevada and western Utah, mainly in two large spring complexes, with several additional concentrations in smaller nearby springs; it is extiprated from the northern portions of the historical range. The Great Basin population (R. luteiventris pop. 3) occurs in southwestern Idaho, southeastern Oregon, and Nevada; it includes all Nevada populations of R. luteiventris except a small population on the eastern border of White Pine County, which is included in the West Desert population. |
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| Authors / Contributors | |||||||||||
| Global Information Author: | Hammerson, G. | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Jan 05, 2004 | ||||||||||
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| Last Updated: | |||||||||||
| References and Related Literature | |||||||||||
Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp. |
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Blomquist, S. M., and J. C. Tull. 2002. Rana luteiventris: burrow use. Herpetological Review 33:131. |
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Briggs, J. L., Sr. 1987. Breeding biology of the Cascade frog, Rana cascadae, with comparisons to R. aurora and R. pretiosa. Copeia 1987:241-245. |
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British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2002b. Columbia Spotted Frog. B.C. Minist. Water, Land and Air Prot., Biodiv. Branch. 2pp. |
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Corn, P. S., and F. A. Vertucci. 1992. Descriptive risk assessment of the effects of acidic deposition on Rocky Mountain amphibians. J. Herpetol. 26:361-369. |
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Engle, J. C. 2001. Population biology and natural history of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) in the Owyhee Uplands of southwest Idaho: implications for monitoring and management. M.Sc. Boise State University, Boise, ID. |
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Engle, J.C. 2000. Columbia spotted frog Great Basin population (Owyhee Mountains subpopulation) long-term monitoring plan. Year 200 Results. (draft). Boise, ID. |
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Green, D. M., T. F. Sharbel, J. Kearsley, and H. Kaiser. 1996. Postglacial range fluctuation, genetic subdivision and speciation in the western North American spotted frog complex, Rana pretiosa. Evolution 50:374-390. |
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Green, D.M. 1986a. Systematics and evolution of western North American frogs allied to Rana aurora and Rana boylii: karyological evidence. Systematic Zoology 35:273-282. |
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Green, D.M. 1986b. Systematics and evolution of western North American frogs allied to Rana aurora and Rana boylii: electrophoretic evidence. Systematic Zoology 35:283-296. |
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Hodge, R. P. 1976. Amphibians and reptiles in Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Alaska Northwest Publishing Company Anchorage, Alaska. 89 pp. |
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Munger, J. C., M. Gerber, K. Madrid, M.-A. Carroll, W. Petersen, and L. Heberger. 1998. U.S. National Wetland Inventory classifications as predictors of the occurrence of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) and Pacific treefrogs (Hyla regilla). Conservation Biology 12:320-330. |
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Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp. |
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Ovaska, K, S. Lennart, C Engelstoft, L. Matthias, E. Wind and J. MacGarvie. 2004. Best Management Practices for Amphibians and Reptiles in Urban and Rural Environments in British Columbia. Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection, Ecosystems Standards and Planning, Biodiversity Branch |
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Reaser, J. K. 2000. Demographic analysis of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris): case study in spatiotemporal variation. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78:1158-1167. |
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Spahr, R., L. Armstrong, D. Atwood, and M. Rath. 1991. Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species of the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest Service, Ogden, Utah. |
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Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp. |
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Turner, F.B. and Dumas, P.C. 1972. Rana pretiosa. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 119:1-4. |
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Waters, D.L. 1992. Habitat associations, phenology, and biogeography of amphibians in the Stikine River basin and southeast Alaska. Unpubl. rep. of the 1991 pilot project. U.S. Dept. Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, California Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. 61 pp. |
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2004. Species Summary: Rana luteiventris. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Oct 5, 2024).