Species: Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)

Information About

Red-legged Frog

Quick Facts
Latin

Rana aurora

Tlingit

xíxch'

Subspecies

Red-legged Frog in Detail.
About

A golden to army green, sometimes with reddish hues back, with dark spots. Often reddish coloring to the sides of the belly and legs, extending to a whitish belly.

Introduction

In 1983 a class science project order Red-legged frogs, and watched them grow. When they were fully grown frogs they were released into a pond near Kennel Creek, on Chichagof Island. The frogs have been genetically traced to the Columbia River area of Oregon. The problem with the introduced species is they've offset the balance achieved between the western toad (Bufo boreas), and northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile) in the area. Species which are already having a challenge maintain their numbers.

While the Red-legged frog is an invasive species, populations in their native areas between British Columbia and Oregon are declining and if they don't pose a threat, they may become a very critical part in preserving the species.

Habitat & Range

Like most amphibians the Red-legged frog prefers wetlands. They breed in pond and spend most of their adult life along riparian areas.