How Long Do Leopard Frogs Live?

The leopard frog can live for years.

Leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) -- also known as meadow frogs or grass frogs -- can live for years in the wild, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Able to survive in a number of habitats, the leopard frog's lifespan can, however, be shortened by a number of factors.

Lifespan Range

Although the Warner Nature Center notes that the typical lifespan of a leopard frog is three years, the Animal Diversity Web claims that in rare cases, leopard frogs can live up to nine years. However, tadpoles and new froglets have up to a 95 percent chance of dying before reaching reproductive age.

Egg and Tadpole Predators

Turtles can shorten the life of the leopard frog by eating its eggs.

Leopard frogs may not reach adulthood when predators consume the eggs and tadpoles. The eggs can be eaten by leeches, newts and turtles, while tadpoles can be devoured by diving beetles, water bugs, dragonfly larvae and other predators, according to the ADW.

Adult Frog Predators

Herons can eat adult leopard frogs.

Even after reaching adulthood, the lifespan of the leopard frog can be shortened by animals such as fish, herons, snakes, hawks, raccoons and otters, among others. Humans also impact the lifespan of the leopard frog through pesticide poisoning, infectious disease and over-collection for use as bait, classroom and laboratory specimens, as well as causing the disappearance of the frogs' wetland habitat.

References

• Animal Diversity Web: Rana Pipiens
• Warner Nature Center: Leopard Frog