Stats

Lifespan: 8-10 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Hopping
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Near Threatened

About

A threatened frog native to California's coastal wetlands and streams, named for the reddish wash on the underside of its hind legs. It was famously the inspiration for Mark Twain's story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Life cycle

1.
egg
A jelly-coated egg is laid in water and develops over days into an aquatic larva.
2.
tadpole
A gilled tadpole swims and grazes on algae, slowly absorbing its tail and growing limbs.
3.
juvenile
A near-adult amphibian leaves the water with new legs and lungs, smaller than the mature form.
4.
adult
Fully grown at adult size, breathing air.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Rana
Species: Rana draytonii