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Mountain yellow-legged frog Facts

Mountain yellow-legged frog Facts
Mountain yellow-legged frog belongs to the group of true frogs. It can be found in California (Sierra Nevada mountain range). Mountain yellow-legged frog inhabits areas near the streams, rivers, lakes and ponds on the altitude of 1.221 to 7.557 feet. Number of mountain yellow-legged frogs has been drastically reduced in the last couple of decades due to habitat destruction, fungal diseases, climate changes, pollution of the air and introduction of non-native species of fish. Researchers believe that wild population of mountain yellow-legged frogs consists of 150 to 200 animals. Captive breeding of mountain yellow-legged frogs is currently the only way to prevent complete extinction of these animals from the wild.
Interesting Mountain yellow-legged frog Facts:
Mountain yellow-legged frog can reach 1.5 to 3 inches in length and 0.74 to 1.16 ounces of weight. Females are larger than males.
Dorsal side of the body is yellow or reddish-colored and covered with dark spots. Belly and legs are yellow or light orange colored.
Mountain yellow-legged frog has golden yellow eyes with black horizontal pupils.
Mountain yellow-legged frog can detect sounds and vibration of the ground thanks to tympanic membrane (located behind the eyes).
Mountain yellow-legged frog is diurnal animal (active during the day).
Mountain yellow-legged frog spends most of its life near the water. Long legs facilitate jumping on the ground.
Diet of mountain yellow-legged frog depends on developmental stage. Tadpoles eat algae while adults eat various species of insects (lady bugs, flies, ants, beetles, wasps and bees). Mountain yellow-legged frog uses sticky tongue to catch its prey.
Mountain yellow-legged frog often basks in the sun (using the rocks or logs that float on the surface of water) to increase its body temperature.
Mountain yellow-legged frog seeks protection against predators in the crevices of rocks, or under the branches and leaves. It releases garlic-like smell to deter predators.
Natural enemies of tadpoles are brown, rainbow and golden trout. Snakes, Clark's nutcrackers, blackbirds, raccoons and coyotes hunt adult frogs.
Mountain yellow-legged frog hibernates during the winter.
Mountain yellow-legged frog is solitary and territorial animal. Females occupy territory of 0.09 to 1.3 acres while males live on the much smaller territories (up to 0.02 acres).
Mating season of mountain yellow-legged frogs takes place from April to July. Males produce croaking and clicking sounds to attract females.
Female lays 40 to 300 eggs on the rocks, gravel or aquatic plants. Eggs hatch after 18 to 20 days at the temperature of 13 degrees of Celsius. Tadpoles transform into young frogs (process known as metamorphosis) after couple of months or after 2 to 4 years, depending on temperature. Mountain yellow-legged frogs reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 years (when they reach length of 1.73 to 1.97 inches).
Mountain yellow-legged frog can survive 14 years in the wild.


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