Rana boylii

Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog

Identification/Variations: Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs are not smooth in appearance as most frogs are, but its skin is bumpy more like a toad's. However, they have no warts and like all frogs are good jumpers and are found at the waters edge. There are no recognized variations of this frog, but they may be brown, gray, or rust red in appearance. Also their legs are (you guessed it) yellow bellow.

Range/Habitat: Like their name suggestions, these frogs can be found along rocky creeks in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains from south of the Willamette Valley to central California. They also occupy sunny creeks throughout southwestern Oregon.

Notes: These frogs rely heavily on camouflage for their survival. They sun themselves on the banks of rocky creeks and blend in with their surroundings like they were just another stone. If one approaches one, they may be in for a surprise when a stone leaps into the creek and swims away. This frog has suffered major declines in Oregon and historic populations populations north of Douglas County appear to be gone. In areas where streams remain undisturbed and introduced predators have not established threat, Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs maintain healthy populations.