The California Red-Legged Frog Is The State Amphibian Of California. On June 28th, 2014 Governor Jerry Brown signed the legislation (AB2364) into law which Accepted California Red-Legged Frog as the official California State Amphibian. The California red-legged frog was championed by elementary school students who traveled from Southern California to the state capitol in Sacramento to testify on behalf of the State Frog of California.
The State Amphibian Of California “California red-legged frog” is the largest native frog in the western United States and is found almost exclusively in California with a few sightings in Baja California and Mexico. The California State Amphibian “California red-legged frog” is particularly well known as a result of Mark Twain’s famous short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” which featured the species.
The California State Amphibian California red-legged frog’s unique place in California’s history extends as far back as the 19th century Gold Rush. Miners, known as forty-niners, consumed nearly 80,000 frogs per year, nearly eating the species into extinction. While the California State Amphibian “California red-legged frog” no longer has to fear the fork, the species continues to face myriad natural and manmade threats, including the introduction of invasive species into the California red-legged frog’s habitat, as well as habitat loss.
In fact, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, populations of the California State Amphibian California red-legged frog have disappeared from nearly 70 percent of its historically known habitat. In May 1996, the species was listed as a federally threatened species, with the state also classifying it as a species of special concern and subject to protection in June 1996.
California Red-Legged Frog:
STATUS:
Threatened. This means that we are worried about the species, but it is not in danger of dying out right now.
DESCRIPTION:
The California red-legged frog is the largest native frog in the western United States. It is from 4 to 13 centimeters long. (1.5 to 5 inches).
FOOD:
Highly variable. Larvae probably eat algae. Invertebrates are the most common food items of adults.
HABITAT:
The frogs do best when they live in deep-water pools with dense stands of overhanging willows with a fringe of cattails.
RANGE:
San Francisco Bay area (including Marin County). Central Coast. Isolated populations in a few other places such as the Sierra Nevada.
THREATS:
Loss of habitat from the growth of cities and suburbs. Mining. Overgrazing by cattle. Invasion of nonnative species such as bullfrogs. Diseases. Some recreation activities.