The Northern Red-legged Frog is a species of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). This species lives in forests and wetlands that are highly valued by humans for development.

Description

A medium sized frog, the red-legged frog exhibits four possible colours on its back: brown, olive, grey or reddish. True to its name the underside and legs are bright red. Sexes are similar, but females are slightly larger (up to 10cm) than males (under 7cm).

Distribution/Habitat

The Red-legged Frog occurs along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Canada, just reaching southwestern British Columbia. This amphibian is found on wetland sites or in cool, moist forests at lower elevations. They can often be found taking shelter under woody debris in forests where temperatures are lower.

Ecology

Adult males call to attract females and mating quickly follows. Adults lay eggs in large jelly-like masses on vegetation in open water; remain near water until the tadpoles have reached the adult stage. Only small numbers of juveniles (tadpoles) survive to the adult stage, as they have many predators including, fish, leeches and bullfrogs. Adults spend most of their time on land except when escaping predators; they often jump into a nearby pool of water. TOP OF PAGE

Diet

Feed on an array of invertebrates including, beetles and catepillars.

Threats

This species is most greatly affected by degradation in the quality of habitat available or direct loss of habitat. Bullfrogs, an introduced species, are also a large threat to the continued existence of the Red-legged Frog in BC. TOP OF PAGE

References

Text: Environment Canada. 2006. Species at Risk: Red-legged Frog. http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=566. Accessed 30 Nov. 2006.

Text and Map: Ministry of Environment. 2001. Frog-watch Program: Red-legged Frog. From, http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frogwatch/whoswho/factshts /redleg.htm. Accessed 30 Nov. 2006.

Map: As adapted from, Community Mapping Network. Sea to Sky Sensitive Habitat Atlas. http://www.shim.bc.ca/atlases/sea2sky/main.htm. Accessed, 15 Nov 1006.

Sound Clip: California Herpes. 2006. Red-legged Frog. From, http://www.californiaherps.com/noncal/northwest/nwfrogs/pages/r.a.aurora.html. Accessed, 4 Dec 2006.