Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California and adjacent Nevada. The species spends most of its time directly at the water-land interface and is rarely found more than one meter away from water. On cold days and at night they move into deeper waters. Breeding at higher elevations occurs primarily in permanent lakes and ponds deeper than 4-meters. In lower elevation areas, most breeding takes place in low-gradient stretches of perennial streams.
Following breeding, frogs move to a wide variety of water bodies to forage, including streams, ephemeral ponds, marshes, and lakes. In late summer frogs leave ephemeral habitats as they begin to dry up and move to permanent water bodies. In the fall, frogs concentrate into deeper lakes and perennial streams in which they overwinter. Overwintering frogs occupy lake and stream bottoms, banks, near-shore bedrock
crevices, and springs.
Federal Status
ENDANGERED
California Status
THREATENED
- CDFW Status Review of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana sierrae and Rana muscosa) – 2011
- Life History Account – CWHR
Survey Protocol
- Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs Habitat Assessment and Survey Guidelines – Western Riverside County MSHCP
- A Standardized Protocol for Surveying Aquatic Amphibians Gary M. Fellers and Kathleen L. Freel – 1995
Home Range and Critical Habitat
Map Data Source: California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR), USFWS Critical Habitat Data Portal
Photo credits: header (cropped) and featured image – Sequoia and Kings National Parks Photostream Flickr