Continued Invasion by an Introduced Frog (Rana berlandieri): Southwestern Arizona, Southeastern California, and Rio Colorado, Mexico

A review of the introduced herpetofauna of Mexico and Central America, with comments on the effects of invasive species and biosecurity methodology

“…The most probable act of introduction into Mexico was not a single event, but rather a secondary effect of several fish transplant operations into the Yuma, Arizona region from New Mexico in the late 1960's or early 1970's (Platz et al 1990). It is likely that the Mexican populations, if they are established, originated as an expansion of the invasion front, using the Colorado and Gila River systems, and adjacent agricultural canals as dispersal routes (Rorabaugh et al 2002). It is unknown what the impact of L. berlandieri is on the biodiversity of Baja California, but it has been associated with historical declines of populations of other native leopard frogs, such L. yavapaiensis, in areas of the lower Rio Colorado basin in Arizona (Rorabaugh et al 2002) (Table 3, Map 24).…”

“…It is likely that the Mexican populations, if they are established, originated as an expansion of the invasion front, using the Colorado and Gila River systems, and adjacent agricultural canals as dispersal routes (Rorabaugh et al 2002). It is unknown what the impact of L. berlandieri is on the biodiversity of Baja California, but it has been associated with historical declines of populations of other native leopard frogs, such L. yavapaiensis, in areas of the lower Rio Colorado basin in Arizona (Rorabaugh et al 2002) (Table 3, Map 24). and Thamnophis hammondii in several oases on the Baja California Peninsula (Grismer 2002).…”

Life history of the Rio Grande leopard frog (Lithobates berlandieri) in Texas

“…The Rio Grande leopard frog (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates berlandieri Baird, 1859) ranges from the extreme southern border of New Mexico to central Texas, USA, and south, mostly along the gulf coast, to the Mexican states of Hidalgo and Veracruz (Platts 1991;Degenhardt et al 1996;Stebbins 2003;Santos-Barrera et al 2010;Tipton et al 2012;Dixon 2013;Powell et al 2016;Frost 2018). Introduced populations of the Rio Grande leopard frog occur in several areas of North America, including expanding populations in Arizona, California, and Utah (USA: Clarkson and Rorabaugh 1989;Platz et al 1990;Rorabaugh et al 2002;Brennan and Holycross 2006;Stebbins and McGinnis 2012) and well-established populations in river drainages from Baja California and Sonora (México: Rorabaugh 2008;Kraus 2009). The distribution of L. berlandieri in Texas spans from El Paso to Dallas and south to Brownsville (type locality [see Frost 2018]), where it can be found in a range of habitats from deserts to woodlands in association with generally clear waterways, including rivers, springs, and canals, but also temporary tanks (Axtell 1959;Jung et al 2002;Santos-Barrera et al 2010;Tipton et al 2012;Dixon 2013;Davis and LaDuc 2018).…”

“…The broad geographic range of L. berlandieri and its complex evolutionary history in the L. pipiens group that readily hybridizes with related species (Mecham 1969;Hillis 1988), has prompted its inclusion in numerous studies into its phylogenetic position and extent of intergradation with conspecifics (e.g., Hillis 1981Hillis , 1982Frost and Platz 1983;Hillis et al 1983; Riverón et al 2004). Moreover, introductions of L. berlandieri outside its native range have been well-documented and those populations remain closely followed (Platz 1990;Clarkson and Rorabaugh 1989;Rorabaugh et al 2002;Rorabaugh 2008;Kraus 2009). Studies focused on natural-history aspects of L. berlandieri, however, are rare throughout the species' natural range, with few exceptions (e.g., Jung et al 2002;Parker and Goldstein 2004).…”

Morphological Change during Rapid Population Expansion Confounds Leopard Frog Identifications in the Southwestern United States

“…The native leopard frog species have declined dramatically, with the extirpation of many populations and the near extinction of at least one species, the Relict Leopard Frog, Rana onca (Clarkson and Rorabaugh, 1989;Jennings and Hayes, 1994a;Jaeger et al, 2001;Bradford et al, 2005;Savage et al, 2011). Simultaneously, nonnative American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) and Rio Grande Leopard Frogs (Rana berlandieri) have been introduced and have rapidly expanded their range (Rorabaugh et al, 2002;Stebbins, 2003;Goodward and Wilcox, 2019). Tracking these rapid range shifts has been especially challenging because the native and nonnative leopard frog species (Rana pipiens complex) are so morphologically similar that positive field identifications are often not possible.…”