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An Elemental Fact: The Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Rana chiricahuensis) | The Chiricahua leopard frog is a rare native of the Southwest. It occurs at several sites in southwestern New Mexico, a few in southeast Arizona, and its status in northern Mexico is unclear. The frog thrives in places with permanent water that is well oxygenated and moderately supplied with organic matter. | The heaviest-bodied leopard frog in New Mexico, the Chiricahua leopard frog is shy and is quick to take to the shelter of deep water when disturbed. Its mating call is a snore-like trill. Like other leopard frogs, it feeds on a variety of insects and other invertebrates. Common prior to widespread habitat alteration as a result of water withdrawal for agriculture and industry, accelerated erosion, wetland vegetation degradation, and bullfrog and alien fish introduction, this leopard frog is now suffering a dramatic decline. Futhermore, excessive ultra-violet radiation levels stemming from atmospheric ozone damage can elevate egg mortality and is suspected in the worldwide decline of frogs and other amphibians. The Chiricahua leopard frog is a candidate for listing as an endangered species by the federal government. The Nature Conservancy's Mimbres River Preserve protects one of the largest remaining populations of this species.
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