Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 13, October 1947
First Record of the California
Yellow-legged Frog in Park
By W. S. Vincent, Ranger-Naturalist
A small frog which proved to be Rana
boylii boylii was collected by the writer in the pond of a small
spring on Red Blanket Creek on July 2 while on a field trip with the
Park Naturalist George C. Ruhle.
This frog has not been reported
previously in any literature as having been collected within the park
boundaries. Its range has been reported as being the middle Rogue River
valley (vicinity of Medford) and in the area around Lake-of-the-Woods.
It has further been reported to the north in Marion, Lane, and Linn
counties. This specimen would appear to consolidate these ranges. No
further collecting in the area was possible to extend the range within
the park.
A brief description of the frog is as
follows*: "Light grayish, greenish or brownish back, indistinctly
mottled; under parts white to pale yellow on posterior parts and
underside of legs; throat and sides of body mottled with dark color;
three inches or less in head-body length."
(*Gordon, Kenneth, Amphibians of
Oregon, Oregon State Monographs, Studies in Zoology No. 1, 1939.)