The Atlantic Coast leopard frog, Rana kauffeldi, is a "new" species to our state, though it has probably been in New Jersey all along.
The Atlantic Coast leopard frog is one of several species of leopard frogs. Its species name, kauffeldi, honors the herpetologist Carl Frederick Kauffeld who in 1936 proposed that there could be a third species of leopard frog inhabiting the New York Tri-State Area. The author team that described the species in 2014 christened it after Kauffeld.
Classified as a true frog, it has smooth skin and a narrow waist. Its range stretches along the northern part of Eastern Seaboard, from Connecticut to North Carolina.
The species takes its common name from the speckles on its legs and back reminiscent of a leopard pattern.
The Atlantic Coast leopard frog tends to inhabit large wetland areas, such as marshes, wet meadows, or slow-flowing water. Its habitat usually includes clear, shallow water and it lives in or around open, vegetated spaces as well, with such plants as cattails, reeds, or river shrubs.
Species Profile state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/chanj_atlcst_leopardfrog.pdf
The Atlantic Coast leopard frog is a featured species for Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/chanj_featspecies.htm
By Feinberg JA, Newman CE, Watkins-Colwell GJ, Schlesinger MD, Zarate B, et al. - Feinberg JA, Newman CE, Watkins-Colwell GJ, Schlesinger MD, Zarate B, et al. (2014) Cryptic Diversity in Metropolis: Confirmation of a New Leopard Frog Species (Anura: Ranidae) from New York City and Surrounding Atlantic Coast Regions. PLoS ONE 9(10): e108213. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108213, CC BY 4.0, Link
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