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California Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii

The California Red-legged frog is a species of amphibian. The Red-legged frog is threatened, and is federally listed under the Endangered Species act.

It can be found throughout California and Northern Baja. When the St. Francis Dam ruptured, large hunks of the dam fell in the San Francisquito Creek, blocking the flow of the stream and forming a pond. The locals called this pond, “The Lagoon”, and the name is still used at this time.

This lagoon and San Francisquito Creek are the perfect habitat for the Red-legged frog. In fact, the Red-legged frog has virtually disappeared in Los Angeles County, with the area of the St. Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and Monument being the only area from Los Angeles to the Mexican border to have a known population of this amphibian.

Egg Mass

The frogs seek out ponds, marshes and streams where they spend most of their lives.  Breeding season for the frogs is generally from November to March. These frogs like to lay their eggs after a rain. Embryos hatch approximately 2 weeks after fertilization and up to 7 months later, metamorphosis.  The frogs are sexually mature in 3 ½ to 4 years.