California Red-legged Frog

Rana draytonii

The California Red-legged Frog is a special frog that loves to hop around in wet places. It has beautiful red spots on its legs and a big, round body. These frogs are great jumpers and can leap far!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The California Red-legged Frog is a large, sturdy amphibian with reddish-brown or gray skin mottled with black spots. It is easily distinguished by the prominent red or salmon color on the underside of its powerful hind legs and lower belly. Its dorsal skin can appear rough or warty.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyRanidaeGenusRana

California Red-legged Frog

Interesting facts

Its calls sound like soft grunts or "ribbit-ribbit" croaks, especially in spring!

Its huge egg masses can contain over 6,000 eggs, like jelly balloons!

Mark Twain's famous jumping frog story was set in its historic habitat!

These frogs can absorb water and oxygen right through their smooth, moist skin!

Special abilities

California Red-legged Frog can jump up to 20 feet because of its powerful hind legs, helping it escape danger.

California Red-legged Frog can stay submerged for over 20 minutes, which helps it hide from predators.

California Red-legged Frog has a lightning-fast, sticky tongue that helps it snatch insects from the air or water.

California Red-legged Frog has mottled brown and gray skin that helps it blend perfectly into muddy pond edges.

Measurements & details

Length: 4-13 cm
Weight: 0.015-0.13 kg
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Clutch Size: 750-6000
Metamorphosis: 105-210 days

Diet & Feeding

This frog is a hungry predator, snatching up insects and other small creatures with its quick tongue!

Age differences: Tadpoles eat algae and detritus, while adults are carnivores eating insects and small animals.

Primary Foods

insects
snails
worms
small fish
other frogs

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

Invasive bullfrogs prey heavily on both tadpoles and adult frogs.

eaten by

Two-striped Gartersnake

Thamnophis atratus

Gartersnakes are common predators, hunting adults and tadpoles near water.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoons forage along pond edges, preying on adult frogs and eggs.

eats

Blue Dasher

Pachydiplax longipennis

Adult frogs snatch dragonflies from the air or water surface.

Traits

Spotted

Marked with spots or patches of a different color.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.