The Plains Leopard Frog is characterized by moist skin, a round snout, an irregular pattern of distinct scattered spots on its back and sides with few or no flecks or network pattern between them, and a raised fold or ridge of skin on each side of the back running from behind the eyes down to the thighs where it is broken, the posterior portion being set inward toward the middle of the back. The head, body, and limbs are gray or tan with dark gray, brown, or black spots. The spots are sometimes narrowly edged with black. The hind limbs are darkly banded. The raised fold or ridge on each side of the back is light yellow, gray, or whitish. The belly is white, although the area around the groin may be yellowish. Adult females grow larger than males.
Adults are normally 51-95 mm (2-3¾ inches) in snout-vent length. The largest Kansas specimen, is a sex undetermined (FHSM 3131), from Montgomery County with a snout-vent length of 107 mm (4¼ inches) that was collected by L. S. Oborny on 15 April 1966. The maximum length throughout the range is 111.1 mm (43⁄8 inches) (Conant and Collins, 1998).
Found nearly statewide, except the extreme southeastern corner.
This frog is found in nearly every aquatic situation, both permanent and temporary, and wanders great distances from water. After summer rains, adults and young engage in a mass exodus from breeding sites, traveling great distances in every direction; there is evidently no home range or territory.
The Plains Leopard Frog is active from February to October within a wide range of temperatures. Like the Northern Cricket Frog and the Western Chorus Frog, it is sometimes active during the winter. Fitch (1956) found this species wandering in his upland wooded study area within an air temperature range of 77-86°F. This amphibian digs into the mud and leaves of lake and stream bottoms during winter months and remains inactive until temperatures are favorable. Heinrich and Kaufman (1985) found several dead examples of this frog on the Konza Prairie on 16 March; apparently the victims had been active and were frozen to death by a rapid change in the weather.
This frog normally begins breeding as early as February and may continue into summer. The call consists of 2-4 repeated guttural notes chuuuck-chuuuck-chuuuck. Caldwell and Glass (1977) found evidence of fall breeding by this frog in Woodson County. Fitch (1958) recorded successive mass migrations of newly metamorphosed young and adults leaving an upland pond in northeastern Kansas but speculated that many perish when they fail to find suitable aquatic habitat during their wanderings.
During the breeding season, males chorus, attract females, and mount them by clasping the females behind their front limbs. Each female may lay up to 6,500 eggs in small masses attached to stems and plants just below the water's surface. The eggs hatch within three weeks, and the tadpoles may metamorphose during the summ er, or overwinter and transform the following spring. They breed in late spring in ponds and ditches where they deposit a large mass of eggs that float near the surface.
These frogs will forage far from water during the summer in search of invertebrate food.
The Plains Leopard Frog feeds primarily on nonaquatic insects. The stomachs of several Plains Leopard Frog examined by Hartman (1906) contained beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, a worm, water-snails, myriapods, and one solpugid.
Shirer and Fitch (1970) reported predation on the Plains Leopard Frog in Kansas by raccoons, opossums, and skunks.
Kirk (2001) listed the Plains Leopard Frog as common at Schermerhorn Park. At one point it was assumed that the Plains Leopard Frog occurred on the Ozark Plateau, however, since then all available specimens have been examined and determined to be Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus).
First reported in Kansas by Hallowell (1857) based on specimen procured by William A. Hammond, then the doctor stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. At the time of this report, Kansas territory spread west to the continental divide. The earliest existing specimen (USNM 45922) was collected at Onaga, Pottawatomie County, in 1891 (collector unknown).
Largely confined to aquatic areas, but may travel significant distances over land during the mid-summer.
Burt (1935) reported that Mr. Cornelius Rogers found a Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) feeding on Plains Leopard Frogs (Rana blairi) in Barber County, Kansas, on 7 April 1934.
The Plains Leopard Frog is known to hybridize with the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) in southeastern Kansas, particularly in Woodson County (Collins 1993). This hybridization normally occurs at or near impoundments of human construction where environmental barriers are eliminated which would normally separate the two species (Collins 1993).
References
Hallowell, Edward. 1856. Notice of a collection of reptiles from Kansas and Nebraska presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences, by Doctor Hammond, U. S. A. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 8:238-253.
Cragin, Francis W. 1880. A preliminary catalogue of Kansas reptiles and batrachians. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 7:112-123.
Hartman, Frank A. 1906. Food habits of Kansas lizards and batrachians. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 20:225-229.
Boulenger, George A. 1920. A monograph of the American frogs of the genus Rana. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (55):413-480.
Linsdale, Jean M. 1925. Land Vertebrates of a Limited Area in Eastern Kansas. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 312 pp.
Forney, Elsie A. 1926. The fauna of an artificial pond. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 76 pp.
Burt, Charles E. 1927. An annotated list of the amphibians and reptiles of Riley County, Kansas. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (189):12.
Linsdale, Jean M. 1927. Amphibians and reptiles of Doniphan County, Kansas. Copeia 1927(164):75-81.
Ortenburger, Arthur I. 1928. The whip snakes and racers: Genera Masticophis and Coluber. Memiors of the University of Michigan Museum (1):1-247.
Taylor, Edward H. 1929. List of reptiles and batrachians of Morton County, Kansas, reporting species new to the state fauna. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 19(6):63-65.
Mansfield, Robert R. 1932. A comparative study of the Helminthes of the Anura from five given localities. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 35 pp.
Gloyd, Howard K. 1932. The herpetological fauna of the Pigeon Lake Region, Miami County, Kansas. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters 15:389-408.
Smith, Hobart M. 1933. The Amphibians of Kansas. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 383 pp.
Smith, Hobart M. 1934. The Amphibians of Kansas. The American Midland Naturalist 15(4):377-527.
Brennan, Lawrence A. 1934. A check list of the amphibians and reptiles of Ellis County, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 37:189-191.
Brennan, Lawrence A. 1935. Notes on the distribution of Amphibia and Reptilia of Ellis County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 114 pp.
Burt, Charles E. 1935. Further records of the ecology and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the middle west. The American Midland Naturalist 16(3):311-366.
Brumwell, Malcolm J. 1936. Distributional records of the reptilia and amphibians of Kansas. Privately printed. 22 pp.
Hibbard, Claude W. and A. Byron Leonard. 1936. The occurrence of Bufo punctatus in Kansas . Copeia 1936(2):114.
Youngstrom, Karl A. 1937. Studies on developing behavior in anuran larvae and tadpoles. Dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 118 pp.
Brennan, Lawrence A. 1937. A study of the habitat of reptiles and amphibians of Ellis County, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 40:341-347.
Tihen, Joseph A. and James M. Sprague. 1939. Amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the Meade County State Park. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 42:499-512.
Hassler, Ira M. 1940. A preliminary survey of Chapman Creek. .
Marr, John C. 1944. Notes on amphibians and reptiles from the central United States. The American Midland Naturalist 32(2):478-490.
Moore, John A. 1944. Geographic variation in Rana pipiens Schreber of eastern North America. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 82(8):345-370.
Elliott, Alice. 1947. A preliminary survey and ecological study of the fishes of the South Ninnescah and Spring creek. Thesis. Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Smith, Hobart M. 1950. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of Kansas. University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publication (2):336.
Brumwell, Malcolm J. 1951. An ecological survey of the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. The American Midland Naturalist 45(1):187-231.
Freiburg, Richard E. 1951. An ecological study of the narrow-mouthed toad (Microhyla) in northeastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 54(3):374-386.
Smith, Hobart M. 1956. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of Kansas. Second edition. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication (9):1-356.
Loomis, Richard B. 1956. The chigger mites of Kansas (Acarina, Trombiculidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 37:1195-1443.
Gish, Charles D. 1962. The Herpetofauna of Ellis County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 34 pp.
Holman, J. Alan. 1965. Early Miocene anurans from Florida. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences 28(1):68-82.
Choate, Jerry R. 1967. Wildlife in the Wakarusa Watershed of Northeastern Kansas. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 46 pp.
Gier, Herschel T. 1967. Vertebrates of the Flint Hills. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 70(1):51-59.
Maher, Michael J. 1967. Response to thyroxine as a function of environmental temperature in the toad, Bufo woodhousei, and the frog, Rana pipiens. Copeia 1967(2):361-365.
Shirer, H. W. and Henry S. Fitch. 1970. Comparison from radiotracking of movements and denning habits of the Raccoon, Striped Skunk, and Opossum in northeastern Kansas. Journal of Mammalogy 51(3):491-503.
Holman, J. Alan. 1971. Herpetofauna of the sandahl local fauna (Pleistocene: Illinoian) of Kansas. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan 23(22):349-355.
Holman, J. Alan. 1972. Herpetofauna of the Kanopolis local fauna (Pleistocene: Yarmouth) of Kansas. Michigan Academician 5:87-98.
Mecham, John S., Murray J. Littlejohn, Robert S. Oldham, Lauren E. Brown, and Jill R. Brown. 1973. A new species of the Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens complex) from the plains of the central United States. Occasional Papers the Museum Texas Tech University (18):1-11.
Eshelman, Ralph E. 1974. Geology and paleontology of the early Pleistocene Belleville Formation of north central Kansas. Dissertation. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 137 pp.
Collins, Joseph T. 1974. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Public Education Series (1):283 pp.
Pace, Ann E. 1974. Systematic and biological studies of the leopard frogs (Rana pipiens complex) of the United States. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (148):1-140.
Karns, Daryl, Ray E. Ashton, Jr., and Thomas Swearingen. 1974. Illustrated Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas: An Identification Manual. University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History Public Education Series(2):viii + 18.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1975. Amphibians and Reptiles of Kingman County, Kansas. Privately Printed, Lawrence, Kansas. 3 pp.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1975. First KHS field trip yields three county records. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (7):1-3.
Perry, Janice. 1975. A trip to southeastern Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (7):4.
Holman, J. Alan. 1975. Herpetofauna of the WaKeeney local fauna (Lower Pliocene: Clarendionian) of Trego County, Kansas. Pages 49-66 in Studies on Cenozoic
Paleontology and Stratigraphy
in honor of
Claude W. Hibbard. Museum of Paleontology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1976. Field checklist (of) amphibians and reptiles of Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society, Lawrence.
Caldwell, Janalee P. and Gregory. Glass. 1976. Vertebrates of the Woodson County State Fishing Lake and Game Management Area. Pages 62-76 in Preliminary inventory of the biota of Woodson County State Fishing Lake and Game Management Area. Report No. 5. State Biological Survey of Kansas, Lawrence.
Grow, David. 1976. Large garter snake caught at zoo. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (12):8.
Capron, Marty B. and Jan Perry. 1976. A July weekend in Great Bend. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (14):1-2.
Dunlap, Donald G. and K. C. Kruse. 1976. Frogs of the Rana pipiens complex in the northern and central Plains states. Southwestern Naturalist 20:559-571.
Axtell, C. B. 1976. Comparisons of morphology, lactate dehydrogenase, and distribution of Rana blairi and Rana utricularia in Illinois and Missouri. Illinois Academy of Science 69:37-48.
Rundquist, Eric M. and Joseph T. Collins. 1977. The amphibians of Cherokee County, Kansas. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 12 pp.
Knight, James L. and Joseph T. Collins. 1977. The amphibians and reptiles of Cheyenne County, Kansas, Report Number 15. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 19 pp.
Miller, Larry L. 1977. Five days in February. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (18):10-11.
Trott, Gene. 1977. Chikaskia River wildlife study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (19):2-3.
Irwin, Kelly J. 1977. KHS Ottawa County meeting profitable. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (20):1-2.
Stegall, Eddie. 1977. First Strecker's Chorus Frog collected in Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (21):11-13.
Perry, Janice. 1977. KHS members achieve goal: Get Cottonmouth. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (21):3-4.
Curl, Richard L. 1978. Final Environmental Statement: Milford Lake Kansas operation and maintenance. US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District. 158 pp.
Warner, M. and R. Wencel. 1978. Chikaskia River study held near Caldwell. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (25):15-16.
Skie, Shelley and Martha Bickford. 1978. KHS takes to the field in July at Winfield. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (26):42798.
Capron, Marty B. 1978. Four county collecting raid: A south central Kansas herping saga. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (26):9-12.
Perry, Janice. 1978. KHS successful at Miami County State Lake. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (27):5.
Martin, Larry D. 1979. Survey of fossil vertebrates from east-central Kansas: Kansas River bank stabilization study. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District. 55 pp.
Ports, Mark A. 1979. Occurrence and density studies of nongame wildlife in southwestern Kansas - May 16-August 16, 1979. Kansas Fish and Game Commission, Pratt, Kansas. 83 pp.
Gray, Peter and Eddie Stegall. 1979. A field trip to the Red Hills. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (29):6-8.
Knight, James L. 1979. Herps observed or collected during the first three months of 1979. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (30):6-7.
Miller, Larry L. 1979. Life in Kansas and Oklahoma once again threatened by pesticides. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (31):7.
Guarisco, Hank. 1979. Preliminary laboratory observations of predation by native Texas Garter Snakes upon hatchling Five-lined Skinks. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (32):7-8.
Clarke, Robert F. 1980. Herptiles and fishes of the western Arkansas River in Kansas. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 55 pp.
Spencer, Dwight. 1980. Spencer, D. 1980. Ross Natural History Reservation: the first twenty years, 1959 to 1979. Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas.. 64 pp.
Peck, F. David. 1981. Seasonal Metabolic Changes in the Frog, Rana pipiens. Thesis. Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas. 74 pp.
Fitch, Henry S. 1982. Resources of a snake community in prairie-woodland habitat of northeastern Kansas. Pages 83-97 in Herpetological communities: A symposium of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists League, August 1977. Wildlife Research Reports 12. 239 pp. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D. C.
Collins, Joseph T. 1982. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. 2nd edition. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Public Education Series (8).
Rogers, Karel L. 1982. Herpetofaunas of the Courland Canal and Hall Ash Local Faunas (Pleistoncene: Early Kansas) of Jewell Co., Kansas. Journal of Herpetology 16(2):174-177.
Trott, Gene. 1983. Chikaskia River wildlife study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (52):3-4.
Miller, Larry L. 1983. Bourbon County field trip well attended and successful. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (54):6-7.
Hillis, David M., John S. Frost, and D. A. Wright. 1983. Phylogeny and biogeography of the Rana pipiens complex: A biochemical evaluation. Systematic Zoology 32(2):132-143.
Eshelman, Ralph and Michael Hager. 1984. Two Irvingtonian (Medial Pleistocene) vertebrate faunas from northcentral Kansas. Pages 384-404 in Contributions in Quaternary Vertebrate Paleontology: A Volume in Memorial to John E. Guilday. Special Publication Number 8. Special Publication Number 8, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Brown, Kenneth L. 1984. Pomona: A plains village variant in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 519 pp.
Heinrich, Mark L. 1984. Herpetofauna of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in the Flint Hills region of Kansas with respect to habitat selection. Thesis. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. 57 pp.
Secor, Stephen M. and Charles C. Carpenter. 1984. Distribution maps of Oklahoma reptiles. Oklahoma Herpetological Society Special Publication (3):1-57.
Hillis, David M. 1985. Evolutionary genetics and systematics of New World frogs of the genus Rana: An analysis of ribosomal DNA, allozymes, and morphology. Dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Miller, Larry L. 1985. KHS 1985 field trip to Kirwin Reservoir. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (61):11-12.
Lynch, John D. 1985. Annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 13:33-57.
Collins, Joseph T. 1986. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1985. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (63):4.
Coleman, Keith. 1987. Annual KHS Field Trip held at Atchison State Lake. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (68):5-6.
Simmons, John E. 1987. September 1987 field trip report. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (69):42894.
Collins, Joseph T. 1988. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1987. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (71):13-19.
Miller, Larry L. 1988. Harper County KHS field trip well attended. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (72):5-6.
Simon, Martin P. and Joseph H. Dorlac. 1990. The results of a faunistic survey of reptiles and amphibians of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 11 pp.
Collins, Joseph T. 1990. Results of second Kansas herp count held during April-May 1990. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (81):10-12.
Collins, Joseph T. 1990. Maximum size records for Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (81):13-17.
Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 1991. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts.
Collins, Joseph T. and Suzanne L. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cimarron National Grasslands, Morton County, Kansas. U. S. Forest Service, Elkhart, Kansas. 60 pp.
Fitch, Henry S. 1991. Reptiles and amphibians of the Kansas ecological reserves. Pages 71-74 in Ecology and Hydrology of Kansas Ecological Reserves and the Baker Wetlands. Multidisciplinary Guidebook 4. Kansas Academy of Science, Lawrence, Kansas.
Collins, Joseph T. 1991. Results of third Kansas herp count held during April-May 1991. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (85):9-13.
Collins, Joseph T. 1992. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1991. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (87):12-17.
Collins, Joseph T. 1992. Results of the fourth Kansas herp count held during April-May 1992. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (89):10-.
Gubanyi, James E. 1992. An observation on the stomach contents of a Texas Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus). Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (89):17.
Edds, David R. 1992. Observations of the 1992 Sharon Springs rattlesnake roundup. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (90):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 1992. Results of the KHS annual field trip to Sheridan County State Lake. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (90):3-4.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1992. Results of the KHS 1992 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (90):4.
Brown, Lauren E. 1992. Rana blairi. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (536):1-6.
Young, Eugene A. 1993. A Survey of the Vertebrates of Slate Creek Salt Marsh, Sumner County, Kansas, with an Emphasis on Waterbirds. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 189 pp.
Collins, Joseph T. and Suzanne L. Collins. 1993. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. Third Edition. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Lawrence. 397 pp.
Collins, Joseph T. and Rundquist, Eric M. 1993. Results of the fifth Kansas herp count held during April-June 1993 . Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (94):7-11.
Viets, Brian E. 1993. An annotated list of the herpetofauna of the F. B., and Rena G. Ross Natural History Reservation. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 96(1/2):103-113.
Collins, Joseph T. 1994. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1993. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (97):15-19.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1994. Results of the sixth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (97):5-14.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1994. Additions and corrections [to the results of the sixth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1994]. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (98):4.
Holman, J. Alan. 1995. Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles. Oxford University Press, New York. 243 pp.
Anderson, Lewis, Mark Shaw, Jeff Blodig, and Tom Walker. 1995. Report to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: Herps encountered during REmap project, summer 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (99):10-17.
Moriarty, Emily C. and Joseph T. Collins. 1995. First known occurrence of amphibian species in Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (100):28-30.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1995. Results of the seventh annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1995. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (101):11-17.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1995. Additional KHS herp counts for 1995. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (102):11-.
Moriarty, Emily C. and Joseph T. Collins. 1995. An estimate of numbers of Plains leopard frogs at a site in northeastern Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (102):14-15.
Howdeshell, Kembra L. 1996. Effects of Estrogen on Selected Reproductive Parameters of the Male Plains Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens. Thesis. Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas. 56 pp.
Young, Eugene A. and Max C. Thompson. 1996. Waterbird usage of the Warner Marsh, Slate Creek Wetlands, Sumner County, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 80 pp.
Miller, Larry L. 1996. Results of the KHS 1995 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (103):3.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1996. Results of the eighth annual KHS herp counts Held 1 April-31 May 1996. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (104):6-17.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1996. Notes on the natural history of some Kansas amphibians and reptiles: Parasites. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (105):16-17.
Miller, Larry L. 1996. Third graders conduct amphibian and reptile field study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):15.
Miller, Larry L. 1996. Many amphibian and reptile species identified during KHS 1996 fall field trip to Wabaunsee County. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):2-3.
Rakestraw, J. 1996. Spring herp counts: A Kansas tradition. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine (March-April):75-80.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1997. Results of the ninth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1997. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (108):12-17.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1997. Addendum to 1997 KHS herp counts. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (109):14-15.
Taggart, Travis W. 1997. Status of Bufo debilis (Anura: Bufonidae) in Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (109):7-12.
Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 1998. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd ed, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 1998. A Key to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 131 pp.
Gamble, Jerre. 1998. Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hartford, Kansas. 91 pp.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1998. Results of the tenth annual KHS herp counts for 1998, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (112):11-18.
Collins, Joseph T. 1998. Results of the KHS silver anniversary fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (114):6-.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1999. Kansas Herpetological Society herp counts: A 10 year summary and evaluation. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (115):42962.
Taggart, Travis W. 1999. Cherokee County fall 1999 herp count. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (117):6.
Miller, Larry L. 2000. February amphibian and turtle observations in Shawnee County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (119):11.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2000. Observations on reptilian predation. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):18.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. KHS spring field trip sets record for attendance. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):5-5.
Doren, Van, Mark D., and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2000. A herpetological survey of the Fort Larned National Historic Site, Pawnee County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):8-11.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2000. Results of the eleventh and twelfth annual KHS herpetofaunal counts for 1999-2000, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):11-16.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. Results of the KHS 2000 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):6-8.
Goldberg, Stephen R., C. R. Bursey, and J. E. Platz. 2000. Helminths of the Plains Leopard Frog, Rana blairi (Ranidae). Southwestern Naturalist 45:362-366.
Kirk, Jay D. 2001. Reintroduction of the Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) to Cherokee County, Kansas. Thesis. Friends University, Wichita, Kansas. 54 pp.
Fitch, Henry S. 2001. Further study of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in northeastern Kansas. Scientific Papers of the Natural History Museum, University of Kansas (19):1-6.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2001. The amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of the Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):9-11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2001. Results of the KHS spring field trip west. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):10.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2001. Results of the thirteenth annual KHS herp counts for 2001, held 1 April-30 June. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):13-16.
Kingsbury, Bruce and Joanna Gibson. 2002. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Publication of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Address not given. 152 pp.
Fogell, Daniel D. 2002. Occurrence and relative abundance of amphibians and reptiles at
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of
America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 6 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren and A. Hynek. 2002. Amphibian and reptile inventory of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Labette County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):18-20.
Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the spring 2002 KHS field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (3):6-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the KHS 2002 fall field Trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):11-13.
Gubanyi, James E. 2002. Osage County herp count I. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
Miller, Larry L. 2002. Osage County herp count II. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
Miller, Larry L. 2002. Shawnee County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
Fogell, Daniel D. 2003. A herpetofaunal inventory of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 59 pp.
Suleiman, G. 2003. Fort Riley herpetofaunal count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (5):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the 2003 KHS spring field trip to Wilson County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):2-5.
Miller, Larry L. 2003. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.
Miller, Larry L. and Suzanne L. Miller. 2003. Wakarusa herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.
Burr, Andrew. 2003. Coffey County herp count 1. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):7.
Volkmann, Al. 2003. Cowley County herp count 1. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):7.
Collins, Joseph T. 2003. Douglas County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Gubanyi, James E. 2003. Osage County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Lokke, John L. and Jill Lokke. 2003. Cowley County herp count 2. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Gubanyi, James E. 2003. Shawnee County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):9.
Suleiman, Gibran. 2003. Fort Riley herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the KHS 2003 fall field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (8):14-15.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Natural history and status of the exploited Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) in western Kansas and a herpetofaunal inventory of the Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 170 pp.
Delisle, Jennifer M. and William H. Busby. 2004. Biological inventory for vertebrates at Fort Larned National Historic Site of the southern plains network. Natural Heritage Inventory, Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 61 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Kansas Herpetological Society 2004 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (9):2.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Attempted predation on a hatchling Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by an adult Plains Leopard Frog (Rana blairi). Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the 2004 KHS spring field trip to Logan County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):2-7.
Volkmann, Al. 2004. Cowley County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.
Miller, Larry L. 2004. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):11-12.
Gubanyi, James E. 2004. Wilson County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the KHS 2004 fall feld trip . Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):15-16.
Schmidt, Curtis J. and Travis W. Taggart. 2004. Life history. Rana blairi. New state maximum length. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):17.
Lannoo, Michael (Editor). 2005. Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. University fo California Press, Berkeley. 1115 pp.
Smith, Brian E. and Douglas A. Keinath. 2005. Plains Leopard Frog (Rana blairi): A technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. 47 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2005. Results of the KHS 2005 fall field trip [to Crawford County]. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (16):19-21.
Hillis, David M. and Thomas P. Wilcox. 2005. Phylogeny of the New World True Frogs (Rana).. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34(2):299-314.
Altig, Ronald, Roy W. McDiarmid, Kimberly A. Nichols, and Paul C. Ustach. 2006. Tadpoles of the United States and Canada: A Tutorial and Key. Electronic files accessible at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/tadpole/. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD, USA. .
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Distribution and status of Kansas herpetofauna in need of information. State Wildlife Grant T7. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. vii + 106 pp.
Frost, Darrel R, Taran Grant, Julian Faivovich, Raoul H. Bain, Alexander Haas, Celio F. B. Haddad, Rafael O. De Sa, Alan Channing, Mark Wilkinson, Stephen C. Donnellan, Christopher J. Raxworthy, Jonathan A. Campbell, Boris L. Blotto, Paul Moler, Robert C. Drewes, Ronald A. Nussbaum, John D. Lynch, David M. Green, and Ward C. Wheeler. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (297):370.
Wilgers, Dustin J. and Eva A. Horne. 2006. Effects of different burn regimes on tallgrass prairie herpetofaunal species diversity and community composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas. Journal of Herpetology 40:73-84.
Wilgers, Dustin J., Eva A. Horne, Brett K. Sandercock, and Allan W. Volkmann. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tallgrass prairie. 62:378-388.
Taggart, Travis W., Joseph T. Collins, and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2007. Estimates of amphibian, reptile, and turtle mortality if Phostoxin is applied to 10,000 acres of prairie dog burrows in Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 5 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2009. KHS 2009 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (29):42769.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2010. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas. Eagle Mountain Publishing., Provo, Utah. 400 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2010. Kansas Herpetological Society spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (33):2-3.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2011. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas. Second (Revised) Edition. U. S. Forest Service.
McMartin, David C. 2011. U. S. Army 2011 Fort Leavenworth Herpetofaunal Survey: 23 April - 09 May 2011. Privately printed, Leavenworth, Kansas. 33 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 spring field trip to be held in Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (37):5-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the KHS Spring Field Trip to Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (38):2-4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Summer Field Trip to Scott State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Fall Field Trip to Lovewell State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):4-5.
McMartin, D. Chris. 2011. Herp Count: Fort Leavenworth Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):8-9.
Houck, Mike. 2011. Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):9.
Rohweder, Megan R. 2012. Spatial conservation prioritization of Kansas for terrestrial vertebrates. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 151 pp.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada: Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 152 pp.
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2013. Frogs of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 982 pp.
Bass, Neil. 2013. The Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project: For the river, for you, and for herps. Collinsorum 2(1/2):10-11.
Miller, Larry L. 2013. Wellington Lake Herpetological Survey. Collinsorum 2(1/2):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Summer Field Trip to Meade County State Park. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Fall Field Trip to Atchison County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Summer Field Trip to Coldwater Lake, Comanche County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Fall Field Trip to Butler County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):6.
Mardis, Dexter and Kevin Scott. 2013. 2013 Kansas Herpetofaunal Counts. Collinsorum 2(3/4):7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Spring Field Trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Fall Field Trip to Woodson County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.
Houck, Mike. 2015. 2015 Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Count final report. Collinsorum 4(1):10-11.
Bass, Neil. 2015. Herpetological (Frog and Turtle) Inventories along the Missouri River in Kansas. Collinsorum 4(1):5-9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Summer Field Trip In The Harvey County Sandhills. Collinsorum 4(3):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Fall Field Trip Held In Washington County. Collinsorum 4(3):4.
Watermolen, Dreux J. 2015. Synopsis of chiggers parasitic on North American amphibians. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 50(10):161-170.
Pittman, Galen L., Henry S. Fitch, and W. Dean Kettle. 2016. Vertebrate animals on the Fitch Natural History Reservation (1948-2002). Kansas Biological Survey Report Number 188, Lawrence. 48 pp.
Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. 494 pp.
Smith, Jennifer N. and Dexter Mardis. 2016. Early season breeding activity in Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi) in Kansas. Collinsorum 5(1):5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Spring 2016 KHS field trip to Clark County was a soggy success. Collinsorum 5(2-3):2-3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS Summer field trip to Caney River, Chautauqua County, Kansas. Collinsorum 5(2-3):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS ‘Fall’ field trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 5(2-3):6-7.
Snyder, Ariel. 2017. Survey Of Anuran Chytrid (Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis) in Kansas and the Influence of
Anuran Life History in Occurrence. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 53 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. and J. Daren Riedle. 2017. A Pocket Guide to
Kansas Amphibians,
Turtles and Lizards. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas. 69 pp.
Crother, Brian I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Eighth edition. Herpetological Circulars (43):1-102.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2017. Results from three Herpetofaunal tallies at Wichita State University’s Youngmeyer Ranch in Northwestern
Elk County. Collinsorum 6(1):8-10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Results of the 2017 KHS Spring Field Trip to Elk County, Kansas. Collinsorum 6(2-3):6-8.
Houck, Mike. 2018. Herp Count: Fort Riley Military Installation. Collinsorum 7(1):17.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2019. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada. Third Edition. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 192 pp.
Daniel, Richard E. and Brian S. Edmond. 2020. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2019. Privately printed, Columbia, Missouri. 86 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Revisiting Kansas Herpetological Society field trip and Herp Count data:
Distributional patterns and trend data of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Collinsorum 9(1):7-16.
Goldberg, Stephen R. 2020. Notes on reproduction of the Plains Leopard Frog, Lithobates blairi (Anura: Hylidae), from Oklahoma. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 55(8):163-165.
Wright, Jake T. 2021. Amphibian larvae distribution amongst intermittent
stream pools in the flint hills covaries with vegetation and fish colonization. Thesis. Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. 55 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-05. Collinsorum 9(3):12.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2021. Herp Count: Sumner County: KHS-2020-08. Collinsorum 9(3):12-13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Comanche County: KHS-2020-15. Collinsorum 9(3):13-14.
Falcon, Melanie. 2021. Herp Count: McPherson County: KHS-2020-18. Collinsorum 9(3):14.
Taggart, Meg, Amelia Jaeger, Jesse J. Taggart, and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-22. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Megan M. and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-27. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Taggart, Travis W. 2021. Herp Count: Harper County: KHS-2020-26. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Stafford County: KHS-2020-34. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-33. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Ward, Krista J. 2022. Drying and rewetting of wetland soil increases survival but hinders growth and development of larval amphibians. Thesis. Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. 47 pp.
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2023. Frogs of the United States and Canada. Second Edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 1032 pp.
Skerlec, Samantha M. 2023. Investigating the impacts of drought-related
drying
events following pond refill on the growth, survival, and post-metamorphic
fitness of Lithobates blairi tadpoles. Thesis. Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. 35 pp.
Russell, Elisabeth. 2023. Habitat associations and fine-scale movements of the Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) in Kansas and the efficacy of remote telemetry for monitoring small-scale movements. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 81 pp.
Ward, Krista J., Shania E. M. Burkhead, Emily A. Stybr-Burrus, and Thomas M. Luhring. 2023. No free refills: Prior drying and vertebrate colonisation
alter ecological functioning and vertebrate fitness within
experimental aquatic systems. Freshwater Biology 68(9):1614-1626.