Led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Southern Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Recovery Program includes the LA Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Aquarium of the Pacific, Santa Ana Zoo, Big Bear Alpine Zoo and Birch Aquarium have also joined the partnership.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the southern mountain yellow-legged frog as endangered. The species is found in perennial streams in portions of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains.
The frogs generally grow to about 1.5 to 3.25 inches long. Adults can be brown, yellow, gray, red or greenish-brown, often with dark markings that help camouflage them against moss and lichen. Their bellies and the undersides of their legs can be yellow or light orange.
Visitors can see southern mountain yellow-legged frogs at the LA Zoo’s Living Amphibian, Invertebrate, and Reptile exhibit during regular operating hours.