Chiricahua leopard frog
The Chiricahua leopard frog ("Lithobates chiricahuensis" syn. "Rana chiricahuensis") is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, the true frogs. Distirbution and habitat. It is native to Mexico and the United States (Arizona and New Mexico). Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, ponds, and open excavations. Conservation. It is threatened by habitat loss and chytrid fungus to such an extent that it has been eliminated from 80% of its former habitat. The Phoenix Zoo, Arizona's Department of Game and  Fish, and the USFWS are trying to mitigate threats through captive breeding and reintroduction efforts. Phylogeny. A 2011 genetic analysis provided evidence that the northwestern Mogollon Rim population of "L. chiricahuensis" is indistinguishable from specimens of the extinct Vegas Valley leopard frog ("Lithobates fisheri"). The Ramsey Canyon leopard frog ("Lithobates subaquavocalis") has also been shown to be conspecific with the Chiricahua leopard frog.