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A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

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Eggs and Tadpoles of
Northern Red-legged Frog - Rana aurora

Baird and Girard, 1852
Sounds





observation link

 

Eggs
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs
Eggs in early March, coastal Humboldt County
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs
Egg mass, Humboldt County
© Maureen Krinsky		 Egg mass in March, Humboldt County Egg masses, March, Humboldt County
The eggs on the right were laid more recently than those on the left, which have begun to develop kidney shaped ova.		 Egg mass, February,
King County, Washington
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs
Mature egg masses,
February, Lewis County, Washington 		Egg mass, February, Lewis County, Washington Egg mass at edge of pond, early February, Pacific County, Washington. Egg mass, February,
King County, Washington
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs
Egg masses, attached to dead grass stems, February, Lewis County, Washington Recently-laid eggs, Thurston County, Washington © 2004 William Leonard
 Eggs close-up
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs  
Egg masses in pond, mid-February, Pacific County, Washington  
       
Tadpoles
Northern Red-legged Frog Eggs Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpoles Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole  
Close-up of Eggs and embryos,
in late stage of development		 Tadpole eyes are set in from the margin of the head. Compare with P. regilla Young Tadpole  

The following series of pictures show the development of a tadpole over the course of several months.

Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole
1. Recently-hatched tadpole 2. Rear legs developing
(6 weeks later) 		3. Rear legs increasing in size
(10 weeks after hatching)		 4. Rear legs increasing in size
(8 days later)
Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole Northern Red-legged Frog Tadpole
5. Front legs developing
(2 days later) 		5. Front legs developing
6. Tail decreasing in size (5 days later - about 3 months after hatching.)

The following series shows a newly metamorphosed frog, one of the tadpoles seen above, absorbing its tail after emerging from the water to live on land.
Northern Red-legged Frog Northern Red-legged Frog Northern Red-legged Frog Northern Red-legged Frog
6. Metamorph, day 1 on land 7. Metamorph, day 2 8. Metamorph, day 3 9. Metamorph, day 4
Northern Red-legged Frog Northern Red-legged Frog    
10. Metamorph, day 6 11. Metamorph, day 10    
       
Breeding Locations
Northern Red-legged Frog Habitat Northern Red-legged Frog Habitat Northern Red-legged Frog Habitat Northern Red-legged Frog habitat
Breeding habitat, Del Norte County
© Alan Barron		 Breeding waters with eggs in early March, Humboldt County Breeding waters with eggs in early March, Humboldt County Breeding pond with egg mass in February King County, Washington
Northern Red-legged Frog habitat Northern Red-legged Frog habitat    
Breeding pond with eggs in February,
Pacific County, Washington 		Breeding pond with eggs in February,
Pacific County, Washington
    
       
Short Videos
Northern Red-legged habitat Northern Red-legged habitat    
Northern Red-legged Frog breeding habitat with eggs in Washington. More Northern Red-legged Frog breeding habitat with eggs in Washington.    
       

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