Rana yavapaiensis, a New Species of Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens Complex)

Rana yavapaiensis, a distinctive new species of the R. pipiens complex, occupies lower elevation aquatic habitats in the western third and southern half of Arizona and adjacent Sonora, Mexico. It is similar to but distinguishable from R. chiricahuensis and R. magnaocularis. The new species is sympatric over part of its range with R. chiricahuensis. Where they occur together the production of F, hybrids was low and presumed backcross individuals were not detected. Comparisons of preserved specimens of the new species with type specimens of both R. onca and R. fisheri indicate that R. yavapaiensis is distinct from each of these