Relict Leopard Frog

Arguably one of the most important features of the Relict’s habitat is the plants present in the area. Relict Leopard Frogs rely on vegetation to keep cool, hide from predators, lay their eggs on, and for shelter (BioKids, 2019). Unfortunately, human development in Relict habitats has lead to a decrease in plant life within the area, with room being made for housing complexes and trees being cut down to appease the continual desire for wood. Without this necessary plant life, Relict Leopard Frogs are vulnerable to predators, have no viable locations to lay their eggs, and are exposed to the elements. By restoring plant populations in the area through planting, we can better the Relict Leopard Frog’s odds of survival until reproduction and restore their ecosystem at the same time. 

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The most important thing that can be done to preserve the Relict Leopard Frog is to preserve what little habitat it currently has and ensure the conditions of the habitats remain favorable to the species. As the Relict Leopard Frog is an endemic species, it cannot simply escape to a new habitat once its current one is destroyed. It has specifically evolved to inhabit this habitat, and with the loss of it comes the loss of the species. As the Relict Leopard Frog relies on specific circumstances to produce offspring, with presence of vegetation, water temperatures, and cleanliness being choice examples, measures must be taken to ensure the viability of the offspring’s survival. Actions such as the reestablishment of native plants in the area to provide shade and protection to the offspring during their tadpole phase and to ensure viable vegetation is present for the frogs to lay eggs on, removal of invasive species, and continued monitoring to ensure the viability of the area for offspring are all essential steps towards reestablishing a stable Relict Leopard Frog population within their five existing habitats.