The Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa), or Rana de montaña de patas amarillas in Spanish, isn’t a picky eater. It feeds on a variety of insects, such as beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and dragonflies. Once one of the most abundant amphibians in the Transverse Ranges of southern California, the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog has experienced increased habitat loss due to increased wildfires, non-native predators, and disease. Conservation status: Endangered.  

To learn more about the Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, visit the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Amphibian and Reptile Atlas of Peninsular California.

PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Backlin, U.S. Geological Service