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Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Amphibians
Nature and Science

Pacific chorus frog's distinct eye stripe

Hidden under logs or in dense vegetation, amphibians are among the least seen wildlife of the park. You may have heard a Pacific chorus frog chirping near a creek, or seen the California newt on its yearly migration. Sodden areas near creeks and marshes are the best place to find amphibians. In locations such as Big Lagoon near Muir Beach, soft clear balls of amphibian eggs attach to emergent vegetation, and male frogs call out to potential mates. Or in forested areas, a check under fallen logs will most likely turn up slender salamanders. Amphibians are highly sensitive to pollution, and a close eye on these animals can alert park managers to potential contaminants in wetlands and in the atmosphere.


 
Red legged frog showing of its bright coloration

Kathleen Freel

Red legged frog showing off its bright coloration

The threatened California red-legged frog has been extirpated from 70 percent of its former range. Threats to this species include urban encroachment, construction of reservoirs and water diversions, introduction of non-native predators and competitors such as the bullfrog, livestock grazing, and habitat fragmentation.
Fort Baker barrack building  

Did You Know?
Golden Gate National Recreation Area administers over 730 historic structures, including over 35 historic batteries. These historic buildings date from as early as pre-Civil War all the way through to the Cold War era.

Last Updated: January 12, 2007 at 14:43 EST