California Red-Legged Frog

Rana aurora, Ranidae

This frog has a size range of 1 3/4 to 5 1/4 inches. It takes its name from the coloring of its lower abdomen and the ventral surface of its hind legs: red over a yellow ground color. The color of its back varies: brown, grey, olive green or a reddish ground color, all speckled in black and darkly splotched. It often has a blackish mask bordered by a whitish jaw stripe. It has dark bands on its legs. It has coarse black or grey, red, and yellow mottling in the groin. The California red-legged frog eats insects and isopods. It inhabits riparian communities in quiet pools of streams and ponds.