Rana chiricahuensis, a New Species of Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens Complex) from Arizona

Abstract

Rana chiricahuensis, a distinctive new species of the Rana pipens complex, ranges over much of montane central and southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and part of northwestern Mexico. It may be readily distinguished from other leopard frogs on the basis of morphology, color-pattern and mating call. Sympatry has been demonstrated between the new form and several other mem- bers of the complex, and electrophoretic and morphological studies indicate that in such areas the production of F1 hybrids is low and backcross products are rare.