What was the broader genus under which many North American spotted frogs, including leopard frogs, were previously classified?
Answer
Rana
Many North American frogs were classified under the broader genus Rana before molecular data supported shifting them to Lithobates, reflecting a separate evolutionary lineage.
Related Questions
To which genus do leopard frogs currently belong scientifically?What was the broader genus under which many North American spotted frogs, including leopard frogs, were previously classified?According to the morphological table, what is generally true about the dorsolateral fold in the Northern Leopard Frog (*L. pipiens*)?How is the vocalization of the Southern Leopard Frog (*L. sphenocephalus*) often characterized in comparison to the Northern species?What taxonomic family level do leopard frogs belong to?Which species name explicitly ties its classification to a restricted geographical region along the coast?What subtle morphological difference is noted regarding the nasal area between the Northern and Southern Leopard Frogs?Why is the detailed classification of leopard frogs crucial for conservation biology?What is the primary driver for the evolutionary divergence leading to separate species among geographically separated leopard frog populations?What type of spotting pattern is generally associated with the Northern Leopard Frog (*L. pipiens*)?