Northern red-legged frog
Rana aurora
The northern red-legged frog is a species of amphibian, whose range is the coastal region stretching from southwest British Columbia to southern Mendocino County in Northern California, and is protected in British Columbia, Oregon and California. As a member of the genus ''Rana'', this species is considered a true frog, with characteristic smooth skin and a narrow waist. This frog requires still waters for breeding, and is rarely found at any great distance from its breeding ponds or marshes.
Northern red-legged frog adults may attain a length of 8 cm ; they have dark facial masks and single characteristic light stripes along their jawlines. The northern red-legged frog has long, powerful legs well adapted to jumping. It is one of two amphibian species classified as red-legged frog, the other species being the California red-legged frog ; however, the latter species is found from southern Mendocino County southerly to Baja California. In some systems of taxonomy, this species is classified as ''Rana aurora aurora''.
Northern red-legged frog adults may attain a length of 8 cm ; they have dark facial masks and single characteristic light stripes along their jawlines. The northern red-legged frog has long, powerful legs well adapted to jumping. It is one of two amphibian species classified as red-legged frog, the other species being the California red-legged frog ; however, the latter species is found from southern Mendocino County southerly to Baja California. In some systems of taxonomy, this species is classified as ''Rana aurora aurora''.
