Quick Facts

Latin Name: Rana pretiosa

Status: Threatened

Population: Found throughout central and western Oregon and western Washington

Diet: Insects

Length: 1.74 to 4 inches

About the Oregon Spotted Frog

The Oregon spotted frog is named for the black spots that cover its head and back. The body color on adults ranges from brown to brownish-red and becomes increasingly red as the frogs age. The species is very aquatic, even compared to other amphibians. Oregon spotted frogs are almost always found in or near water.

Mating typically occurs between March and June, and eggs are laid in pools of water no more than six inches deep. When the tadpoles hatch, they graze on plants and bacteria before metamorphosing into froglets during their first summer. Adults feed primarily on insects and they begin mating at around three years of age.

The Oregon spotted frog is believed to have lost at least 78%, and possibly as much as 90%, of its former habitat and is no longer found in the state of California as a result of habitat loss, invasive plants, and the introduction of non-native predators.

For more information: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Photography: Image #1 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Image #2 by Mid-Columbia River Refuge.