A medium-sized frog of California foothill streams. Populations have declined dramatically due to dam-altered streamflow and disease.

Native status: Native to California; declining

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 4–7 cm
Weight10–30 g
LifespanWild 4–8 years
OrderAnura
FamilyRanidae

§ Encyclopedia

The foothill yellow-legged frog is a small-sized frog from the genus Rana in the family Ranidae. This species was historically found in the Coast Ranges from northern Oregon, through California, and into Baja California, Mexico as well as in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range in California. The foothill yellow-legged frog is a Federal Species of Concern and California State Endangered. A federal rule to list four out of six extant distinct population segments (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act was proposed in December 2021.

Source: Wikipedia — Foothill yellow-legged frog Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Medium brown to olive-yellow frog; yellow underside of thighs; warty skin; smaller eyes than related frogs.

Similar species. Other Rana species (different ranges, markings).

Voice. Soft guttural calls.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects, spiders.

Behavior. California foothill frog; populations have crashed dramatically across most of historical range. Federally proposed for listing. Vulnerable to invasive bullfrogs, fish stocking, and dam-altered stream flows.

§ Range

California, Oregon

§ Habitat

Streams in foothill regions

§ Threats

Stream alteration, dam impacts, climate change.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the foothill yellow-legged frog is currently classified as Near Threatened.

§ What helps

Support natural stream flow regimes.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • AmphibiaWeb
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • USFWS proposed listing
  • IUCN Red List 2014