California red-legged frog, Rana aurora draytonii

The California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) is the largest native frog in the western United States, ranging from 1 1/2 to 5 inches in length.

The abdomen and hind legs of adults are largely red; the back is characterized by small black flecks and larger irregular dark blotches with indistinct outlines on a brown, gray, olive, or reddish background color.

The spots on the frogs' backs usually have light centers. Lateral folds are prominent on the back. Larvae (tadpoles) range from 0.6 to 3 inches in length, and the background color of the body is dark brown and yellow with darker spots.

Appears in University of California Santa Cruz Currents
Volume 2, Number 3 August 4-17, 1997
http://www.ucsc.edu/oncampus/currents/97-08-04/frog.art.htm