THE AMPHIBIA OF OKLAHOMA 



23. Rana berlandieri Baird (Southwestern Leopard Frog) 



State-wide in distribution and present in all habitats permanently or 

 temporarily moist. Breeds in standing or very slow flowing water of all sorts 

 up to three feet in depth, and at all seasons from February to September (ob- 

 served) or later (inferred from indirect evidence). Breeding pattern inter- 

 mediate with a tendency toward the xeric. This is different from its counter- 

 part farther north {R. pipiens Schreber) which has a clear-cut mesic breed- 

 ing pattern. (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 28, 29, 30.) 



24. Scaphiopus bombijrons (Cope) (Plains Spadefoot) 



Distributed both geographically and ecologically essentially as Bnjo cog- 

 natus Say, but known slightly farther east. A grassland form only; absent 

 from or uncommon on river flood plains. Breeding in pools ( 1 ) temporary 

 to no more than semi-permanent, (2) intermediate and warm, (3) typically 

 intermediate to deep [rarely in shallow water). Turbidity and water temper- 

 ature (within reasonable limits) have no effect in the selection of breeding 

 site, as do extent and depth. Shallow pools of small extent not used if deeper 

 and larger ones are available in the same region. Shallow and extensive areas 

 preferred to shallow and smaller pools, but of these, deeper regions are more 

 attractive than the shallower portions. Breeding pattern, strictly xeric. (Figs. 

 3, 17, 20, 21, 23, 32, 35.) 



25. Scaphiopus couchii Baird (Southern Spadefoot) 



Distributed essentially with Bu]o compactilis but not extending quite 

 so far north; hence, limited in Oklahoma to short-grass plains and mesquite 

 savannah in southwest. Breeds in pools (1) temporary, (2) shallow to inter- 

 mediate (most commonly the latter, almost never in deep water). Commonly 

 breeds with B. compactilis, sometimes with B. cognatus but seldom with S. 

 bombijrons because it tends to select shallower pools than the latter. Breed- 

 ing pattern strictly xeric. (Fig. 26.) 



26. Scaphiopus hammondii Baird (Western Spadefoot) 



In Oklahoma known in western portions only including the eastern and 

 western Panhandle and Greer and Beckham Counties. Breeding in Okla- 

 homa unobserved. In New Mexico, using same sorts of sites as S. bombijrons. 

 Tadpoles found in Beaver County in playas and in Beckham County in a 

 ploughed field with those of S. bombijrons. Breeding pattern, xeric. (Figs. 

 13,22,32,35.) 



27. Scaphiopus hurterii Strecker (Savannah Spadefoot) 



Ecologically limited to woodland and savannah but extending westward 

 in the flood-plain forests fringing the larger rivers. Breeding in pools (1) 

 temporary, (2) very shallow to intermediate (unknown in deep pools and in 

 five instances found in the shallower of two adjacent pools). Turbidity has 

 no effect but amount of vegetation may have (more commonly breed where 

 vegetation protrudes but this may be only because more shallow). Tempera- 



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