Oregon Spotted Frog

Range

Various patches of range throughout western Washington and Oregon, northeastern California, and southwestern British Columbia.

Habitats

This frog is highly aquatic and rarely travels far from water. It can be found in wetlands, lakes, or slow-moving streams. It prefers bodies of water with shallow areas and plentiful emergent debris and vegetation mats for basking and hiding.

Identification

A medium-sized aquatic frog averaging 2-4 inches in body length. It has a short, oval snout and bulging, upturned eyes set close together on the head. It has moderately prominent dorsolateral skin folds and mildly bumpy skin. Its hind toes are completely webbed. Juveniles start out dull brown or olive with black blotches on their dorsal surfaces. With age, they develop reddish coloration on their sides, and eventually become completely brick red with larger black blotches. Red adults also tend to have a light lateral stripe above the upper lip.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians