Can you tell a foothill yellow-legged frog from a tree frog?

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They may look similar at first glance, but with these tips, you'll be able to tell the common California tree frog from the more rarely seen foothill yellow-legged frog!

An illustrated four panel comic. Panel 1. One brown spotted frog called a California tree frog sits on the ground near a pond, and another brown spotted frog with slight differences called a foothill yellow legged frog sits on a rock next to it. The text says, Can you tell a foothill yellow legged frog from a tree frog? Three tips to help you out! Panel 2. Tip number one. Foothill yellow legged frogs have pointy toes, while tree frogs have round sticky toes. Two frogs lay side by side on the grass, one with the obvious pointy toes of the foothill yellow legged frog and one with the obvious bulbed toes of the tree frog. Panel 3. Tip number two. Foothill yellow legged frogs have two ridges down their backs called dorsolateral folds. They may be red or blend in with the skin. Tree frogs never have these ridges. A foothill yellow legged frog sits on a rock, with obvious red brown ridges going down its back from behind its eyes to its rear. Panel 4. Tip number three. Just like your high school crush, a foothill yellow legged frog will bolt when it sees you coming. The foothill yellow legged frog is nowhere to be seen, with just a speech bubble coming from beneath the water, saying Nope. Above, an offscreen person cries, Don't go, I love you!! However, next to where the frog has disappeared, a tree frog is pointing its nose above the water. Unlike a foothill yellow legged frog, tree frogs will soon come back to the surface. How heart warming!
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Story Tags

Amphibians
Endangered and/or Threatened species

Written By

Published

Wildlife Wonders

Facilities

Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office

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