Food Habits. No studies of the feeding behavior or diet of the relict leopard frog larvae or adults have been conducted, however the food preferences of adult relict leopard frogs are likely similar to other leopard frog species. Stomach analysis of other members of the leopard frog complex from the western US show a wide variety of prey items are taken, including many types of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates (e.g. snails, spiders, and insects) and vertebrates (e.g. fish and other anurans [including conspecifics]) (Xxxxxxxxxx et al. 1996, Xxxxxxxx 1951). Larval leopard frogs are primarily herbivorous (XxXxxxxxx and Xxxxx 2000, Xxxxx 1996, Xxxxx in press). In captivity tadpoles readily consume algae, dark leafy greens (e.g. romaine lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, spinach, swiss chard), duckweed, spirulina-type fish foods, peas, alfalfa-based rabbit pellets, commercial “protein gel food,” and boiled egg whites (Demlong 1997, X. Xxxxx pers. comm.).
Food Habits. Rodents and other snakes are the major prey items of EMR (Xxxxxxxx and Beer 1973, Xxxxxx 1986, Xxxxxxx 1991, Xxxxxxx 1995). Rodents seem to be the preferred prey for adults, (Xxxxxxx 1991, Xxxxxxx 1992) while juveniles eat both rodents and snakes (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx 1973, Xxxxxx 1986, Xxxxxxx et al. 2004). Voles, moles, jumping mice, and shrews are consumed as well as other snakes and occasionally birds, lizards, frogs, insects and crayfish (Xxxxx 1940, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1957, Xxxxxxx 1972, Xxxxx 1980, Xxxx 1981, Xxxxxxx 1991, Xxxxxxx et al. 2004). EMR appear to be sit-and-wait foragers (Xxxxxxx et al. 1984 in Prior 1991).
