Amphibians
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog
Lithobates kauffeldi · also called Atlantic Coast leopard frogs
A single short “chuck” call rises from a marsh within sight of the Manhattan skyline, and for decades nobody thought to question it, until researchers finally realized the frog making that sound belonged to a species science hadn’t even named yet.
Overview
The Atlantic Coast leopard frog, Lithobates kauffeldi, is a coastal wetland amphibian only formally described in 2014, native to marsh and wetland habitat along the Atlantic seaboard from Connecticut to North Carolina. Its remarkably recent discovery within the densely populated New York City region, distinctive call, and close resemblance to already-known relatives make it one of the more genuinely surprising amphibian discoveries of the twenty-first century.
Hidden in one of the most studied places on Earth
Most new species turn up in remote, poorly surveyed habitat, yet the Atlantic Coast leopard frog spent years going unrecognised within sight of one of the most thoroughly studied cities in the world, identified in the end by nothing more than the sound of its own voice.
Status
Near Threatened — occupying a coastal range under significant development pressure, with comprehensive population data still limited following its recent 2014 formal description.
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog: common questions
Why did it take so long to discover the Atlantic Coast leopard frog?
This species closely resembles the already-known southern leopard frog in appearance, making it easy to overlook, and it wasn't until researchers noticed its distinctive single "chuck" call differed clearly from related species that genetic study confirmed it as a genuinely separate lineage, finally leading to its formal description in 2014.
Is it true this frog was found near New York City?
Yes, populations of the Atlantic Coast leopard frog were confirmed within the immediate New York City metropolitan area, including sites with direct views of Manhattan, making it a particularly striking example of a new species being discovered in one of the most densely studied regions of the country.
How can you tell the Atlantic Coast leopard frog apart from other leopard frogs?
Visual identification alone is unreliable, since it shares the same dark, rounded spots over a green to brown body typical of leopard frogs generally, and its distinctive single "chuck" call remains the most reliable way researchers distinguish it from closely related species like the southern leopard frog.
Where does the Atlantic Coast leopard frog live?
This species is native to coastal wetland and marsh habitat along the Atlantic seaboard from Connecticut south through North Carolina, a range that places it under considerable pressure from ongoing coastal urban and suburban development.