Amphibians
Relict Leopard Frog
Lithobates onca · also called relict leopard frogs
For decades, the relict leopard frog was considered a species science had already lost, absent from every survey until a small surviving population turned up near Lake Mead. That single rediscovery has since grown into an active effort to give this rare desert amphibian a genuine second chance.
Overview
The relict leopard frog, Lithobates onca, is a rare amphibian native to a small number of isolated desert spring sites within the Nevada-Arizona-Utah tri-state area. Its remarkable rediscovery after presumed extinction and ongoing reintroduction efforts make it one of the more compelling conservation comeback stories among North American frogs.
Back from presumed extinction
Few amphibians get a genuine second chance after being written off as extinct, but the relict leopard frog’s rediscovery near Lake Mead has since grown into a dedicated, ongoing effort to expand its population beyond the handful of desert springs it barely survived in.
Status
Vulnerable — recovering modestly through active reintroduction efforts, though still highly restricted to a small number of isolated desert spring sites.
Relict Leopard Frog: common questions
Was the relict leopard frog really thought to be extinct?
Yes, the relict leopard frog was widely believed to be extinct for several decades in the mid-twentieth century, with no confirmed sightings during that time, until a small surviving population was rediscovered in the vicinity of Lake Mead, prompting renewed conservation attention for the species.
Why is the relict leopard frog so vulnerable today?
The relict leopard frog is restricted to a small number of isolated desert springs and associated wetland habitat, an extremely limited distribution that means any disturbance, contamination, or drying of these specific sites could have an outsized impact on the species' already small total population.
What is being done to help the relict leopard frog recover?
Conservation organisations have established an active reintroduction programme for the relict leopard frog, translocating individuals to additional suitable desert spring sites in an effort to establish new populations beyond the few remaining natural sites, helping reduce the overall extinction risk facing the species.
Where does the relict leopard frog live?
The relict leopard frog is native to a small number of desert spring and wetland sites within the tri-state area of Nevada, Arizona, and historically Utah, generally within the Mojave Desert region, making it one of the most geographically restricted amphibian species in North America.