A medium-sized ranid frog endemic to the mountainous regions of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, characterized by distinctive leopard-like spotting patterns on its dorsal surface.
Primarily found in high-elevation mountain streams, ciénegas, stock tanks, and wetland ecosystems between 1,200-2,500 meters above sea level, typically in pine-oak woodlands and grassland areas.
Critical indicator species for aquatic ecosystem health, serving as both predator and prey in complex mountain watershed food webs, and sensitive to environmental changes and climate disruptions.
