The family Ranidae (“true frogs”), has the widest distribution of any frog family. Most members of this family have smooth, moist skin, large, powerful legs and extensively webbed feet. Endemic to the Pacific Northwest, Red-legged Frog are divided into two species – “Northern” and “California”. Both species were once so abundant that they were harvested in the tens of thousands as a food source in the US Pacific Northwest until the late 1800’s. Their habitat includes moist forested areas with shallow aquatic breeding areas such as ponds, slow moving streams, or marshes nearby. Habitat destruction, pollution, the introduction of invasive American Bullfrog, and disease have contributed to its decline.
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Juvenile
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Leg patch
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Adult in pond
This is a species at risk. To find its current at-risk designation and listing info, visit the BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. For direction on finding additional species recovery information, visit the Species and Ecological Communities Profiles Overview webpage.
Resources
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BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer
Provincial site providing current information for BC’s plants, animals and...
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Northern Red-legged Frog Species Profile
SCCP’s Species Profile of the Northern Red-legged Frog (2015).
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Develop with Care – Red-legged Frog Fact Sheet
Northern Red-legged Frog Fact Sheet, as part of the Province...
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Aquatic Amphibian Eggs of BC’s South Coast
Identification Guide of Aquatic Amphibian Eggs of BC's South Coast...
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