At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The mountain yellow-legged frog lives in high mountain lakes and streams of California. It is assessed as Endangered.
It has declined sharply as introduced fish and disease spread through its habitat.
Range & habitat
High mountain lakes and streams of the Sierra Nevada and southern California, USA.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Introduced trout eating tadpoles
- The amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis
- Habitat change
Why it matters
A high-mountain frog squeezed by introduced fish and amphibian disease, the mountain yellow-legged frog is a flagship for restoring fishless alpine waters.
Sources
Sources for Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
- IUCN Red List — look up Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (authoritative status)
- AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Frequently Asked Questions
How did introduced fish harm this frog?
Trout were stocked into naturally fishless mountain lakes for angling, and they eat the frog's tadpoles, wiping out populations in many lakes.
Why is the mountain yellow-legged frog Endangered?
Published assessments cite introduced trout, the amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis, and habitat change. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: