California red-legged frog
The largest native frog in the western United States, with a reddish belly and legs, living in quiet ponds and creeks at Pinnacles.
California red-legged frog at a glance
Rana draytonii RED-leg-d FROG; Rana draytonii is RAH-nuh dray-TOH-nee-eye
- Type
- Amphibian · frog
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Size
- The biggest ones are about 5 inches from nose to rump, roughly the size of an adult's palm, which makes it the largest native frog in the western United States.
- Lifespan
- Around 8 to 10 years.
- Conservation
- Threatened (U.S. Endangered Species Act); Near Threatened (IUCN)
Eats insects, beetles, worms, small frogs
It sits still near water and waits, then flicks out its sticky tongue to grab passing bugs. The biggest adults will even eat smaller frogs and other little animals that come too close.
Should you worry?
This frog cannot hurt you at all, but you can hurt it, so the rule is look, do not touch. It is protected by law. A frog breathes and drinks through its thin skin, so sunscreen, bug spray, and the oils on our hands can poison it. Watch it from the bank, keep dogs out of the pond, and let it be. This is likely the frog that gave author Mark Twain his famous jumping-frog story.
The California red-legged frog is the largest native frog in the western United States, up to about five inches from nose to rump, roughly the size of a grown-up’s palm, with a wash of red on its belly and the backs of its legs. It is a sit-and-wait hunter. It settles near quiet water and holds still until a bug wanders past, then flicks out a sticky tongue to catch it, and the biggest adults will take smaller frogs and other little animals that come too close.
This frog is probably famous without most people knowing it by name. It is widely believed to be the frog behind Mark Twain’s story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” which grew out of the frog-jumping contests of Gold Rush California. Its thin skin does more work than a person’s. A frog can take in water and even some oxygen straight through it, and that same thin skin is exactly why the oils, sunscreen, and bug spray on human hands can poison it.
It cannot hurt anyone, but it is easy to hurt, so it is protected by law. Look, don’t touch. Its ponds have been drained and built over, and big American bullfrogs brought from the eastern states eat it and crowd it out of the water it needs, which is how it became a federally threatened species. Watch it from the bank, keep dogs out of the pond, and leave it where it sits.
Did you know?
- People think this is the frog in Mark Twain's famous story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," written after frog-jumping contests in Gold Rush California.
- Its skin does double duty. A frog can take in water and even some oxygen right through its thin skin, which is also why chemicals on our hands are so dangerous to it.
- Bullfrogs brought in from the eastern United States are one of the biggest problems for this frog. Bigger bullfrogs eat the red-legged frogs and take over their ponds.
Common questions
Can I touch or hold a California red-legged frog?
No. It is protected by law, and the oils, sunscreen, and bug spray on your hands can poison its thin skin. Watch it from the bank and leave it alone.
Is this really the frog from the famous jumping-frog story?
Most people think so. Mark Twain's tale grew out of frog-jumping contests in California, and this native frog is the likely star.
Why is the frog in trouble?
Its ponds have been drained or built over, and bigger bullfrogs brought from other states eat it and crowd it out. It is now a federally threatened species.
How big is it?
Up to about 5 inches long, roughly the size of an adult's palm. That makes it the largest native frog in the western United States.