B.C. Reptiles & Amphibians

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Credit: Kristin Lohr

Columbia Spotted Frog

Rana luteiventris

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Description

Other names: Spotted Frog, Western Spotted Frog

The Columbia Spotted Frog is an intermediate-sized frog reaching up to 9 cm in body length. As with most frogs, the males tend to be smaller than the females. They have dorsolateral folds, eyes that are angled upwards, a prominent tympanum, and a dark mask with a light stripe on the upper jaw. The toes of the Columbia Spotted Frog are completely webbed to accommodate its aquatic lifestyle. They are olive, light brown, or tan with ill-defined black spots and black-mottled sides. They may display red tubercles and red, salmon, or orange pigmentation on the belly. Columbia Spotted Frog tadpoles have long tails with a large tail fin. Their bodies are tan, light brown, or green with gold and bronze flecking, with dark spots or flecking on the tail fin and a white-cream belly. Tadpoles can reach up to 10 cm in length before metamorphosis.

Listen to the Indigenous words for “frog” here!

Columbia Spotted Frog Call

The call of the Columbia Spotted Frog is a series of short grunts or clucks that build in intensity, lasting up to 10 seconds. It may resemble a woodpecker drumming in the distance. It is not known if the call of the Columbia Spotted Frog differs substantially from the Oregon Spotted Frog.

The Columbia Spotted Frog does not have an amplifying vocal sac, so their calls are quieter than other frog species.

Columbia Spotted Frog Call

The call of the Columbia Spotted Frog is a series of short grunts or clucks that build in intensity, lasting up to 10 seconds. It may resemble a woodpecker drumming in the distance. It is not known if the call of the Columbia Spotted Frog differs substantially from the Oregon Spotted Frog.

The Columbia Spotted Frog does not have an amplifying vocal sac, so their calls are quieter than other frog species.

Similar Species

There are two species of Spotted Frog in British Columbia, the Columbia Spotted Frog and the Oregon Spotted Frog. The Columbia Spotted Frog has a larger head than the Oregon Spotted Frog, and in Canada, Columbia Spotted Frogs do not have mottling at the throat; although some populations in the United States do. The distributions of the Columbia Spotted Frog and the Oregon Spotted Frog do not overlap in British Columbia, so the best way to distinguish these two similar species is by location.

The Columbia Spotted Frog also resembles the Northern Red-legged Frog; however, the latter has incomplete webbing on the toes and does not have upturned eyes. Red-legged Frogs are always yellow on the belly with red on the underside of the hind legs. The Columbia Spotted Frog also may resemble the Northern Leopard Frog, but the Leopard Frog has much more distinct spots surrounded by light rings. The other true frogs in its range do not have spots.

Columbia Spotted Frog

Oregon Spotted Frog

Northern Red-legged Frog

Northern Leopard Frog

Distribution

The Columbia Spotted Frog is found in North America from northern British Columbia and the Alaskan Panhandle south to Oregon. It generally occurs between the Rocky Mountains and the Coast and Cascade Mountains, but approaches the coast in a few locations. In Canada, they are found in southern Yukon, southwestern Alberta, and throughout most of British Columbia, with the exception of the southwestern coastal areas and the extreme northeast corner of the province. In the United States, Columbia Spotted Frogs occur from central Washington and Oregon east to Montana and Wyoming, and south to Nevada and Utah.
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Habitat

In Canada, Columbia Spotted Frogs hibernate during the winter underwater in the deeper sections of the wetlands they inhabit, and are active from March until October or November, depending on latitude and elevation. They require permanent water bodies as they are primarily aquatic. When frightened, they will swim to the bottom and remain still in hiding. They are relatively cold-tolerant and may be found far north and at elevations up to the treeline. They prefer aquatic habitats with shallow, warm area and abundant vegetation. They are highly aquatic frogs, but may spend time in terrestrial habitats to forage during the summer. Juvenile Columbia Spotted Frogs may make extensive migrations over land.

Reproduction

Breeding occurs in the early spring immediately after ice melts from the wetlands. Males call to attract females, and fertilization occurs externally via amplexus in aquatic habitats. The female may lay up to 1,500 eggs in a large gelatinous mass that she attaches to vegetation just below the surface of the water. Eggs are dark brown/black on top and pale-yellow underneath. Hatching occurs after 2-4 weeks and tadpoles metamorphose 3-4 months after hatching. In colder climates, tadpoles may hibernate overwinter before transforming. Males reach sexual maturity at 2-4 years, while females are not sexually mature until 4-6 years. The Columbia Spotted Frog can live for over 10 years.

Diet

Columbia Spotted Frogs forage aquatically and terrestrially for a variety of invertebrates including spiders, insects, sow bugs, crustaceans, and mollusks. Tadpoles feed on algae, organic debris, and microscopic organisms in the water.

Conservation Status

Global: G4 (2008)

COSEWIC: NAR

Provincial: S5 (2016)

BC List: Yellow

Learn more about conservation status rankings here

Threats

There is currently no evidence of major decline of Columbia Spotted Frogs in British Columbia, though they have declined in Alberta as a result of urbanization. In British Columbia, the Columbia Spotted Frog generally inhabits areas that are largely undeveloped, thus the threats to this species are minimal. However, as they take a long time to reach sexual maturity, they may be sensitive to population disturbance. Habitat loss from urban development, agriculture, and logging can lead to local declines and extirpation. Pollution from pesticides and herbicides, road salt, and sediment from forestry can cause mortality and developmental defects. The Columbia Spotted Frog may be susceptible to declines following the introduction of American Bullfrogs to an area. They may also be susceptible to pathogens such as Chytrid fungus and Ranavirus. Climate change is a threat to all frog species as it may increase the frequency and severity of drought and flood events.
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Did You Know?

Fact #1

Columbia Spotted Frogs generally stay within 1 kilometer of their breeding pond but movements of up to 6.5 kilometers by a single individual have been recorded.

Fact #2

Columbia Spotted Frogs may use the burrows of small mammals at the edge of wetlands as shelter.

Species Account Author: Marcus Atkins

References
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2004. Species Summary: Rana luteiventris. B.C. Minist. of Environment.
Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed May 21, 2021).
Matsuda, Brent M., David M. Green and Patrick T. Gregory. 2006. Amphibians and Reptiles of British Columbia. Royal BC Museum Handbook. Victoria.
http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/efauna/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Rana%20luteiventris
https://www.naturewatch.ca/frogwatch/columbia-spotted-frog/
http://www.canadianherpetology.ca/species/species_page.html?cname=Columbia%20Spotted%20Frog
https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/search.do;jsessionid=502F4E3D88C6E320D104532BF89C2A61
http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eirs/finishDownloadDocument.do?subdocumentId=696