Northern Red-legged Frog

Rana aurora

The Northern Red-legged Frog is a small, colorful frog with bright red legs. They love to hop around in wet places and are great at blending in with their surroundings.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Northern Red-legged Frog has a reddish-brown back with scattered dark spots and a lighter, mottled underside. Its most distinctive feature is the reddish color on the underside of its hind legs and lower belly. It has relatively smooth skin, distinguishing it from warty toads.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyRanidaeGenusRana

Northern Red-legged Frog

Interesting facts

Baby red-legged frogs, called tadpoles, eat algae before growing their legs and lungs!

Their large egg masses, laid in water, can contain over a thousand tiny eggs!

These frogs perform a 'release call' if accidentally grabbed by another male!

They use their amazing eyesight to spot delicious insects in low light.

Special abilities

Northern Red-legged Frogs can breathe through their moist skin that helps them absorb oxygen directly from water.

Northern Red-legged Frogs has powerful hind legs that help them jump over 2 meters to escape danger or catch prey.

Northern Red-legged Frogs has a long, sticky tongue that helps them quickly snatch insects from the air.

Northern Red-legged Frogs can stay submerged for a long time because their skin absorbs oxygen, helping them hide.

Measurements & details

Length: 4-10 cm
Weight: 0.01-0.05 kg
Lifespan: 5-7 years
Top Speed: 8 km/h
Clutch Size: 750-1500
Metamorphosis: 70-120 days

Diet & Feeding

These frogs are hunters, eating many small creatures they can catch with their quick tongue!

Age differences: Tadpoles are primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae and detritus before becoming carnivorous adults.

Primary Foods

Insects
Spiders
Slugs
Worms
Small crustaceans

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

A frequent predator of frogs and tadpoles.

eaten by

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Wading birds often hunt frogs in shallow waters.

eats

Broad-bodied Chaser

Libellula depressa

Adult frogs hunt various insects, including dragonflies.

eats

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

Frogs forage for worms and other invertebrates.

Traits

Solitary

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

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

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.

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.