• Afternoon clouds cover the distance peaks of the iconic Boney Mountain

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

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  • Partial Park Closure Due to Hazardous Conditions

    Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa re-opens 5/14/13, with restrictions (sunrise to sunset, not all trails). Sandstone Peak & Mishe Mokwa trails will also open, as will Backbone Trail east of Point Mugu State Park boundary. Point Mugu backcountry remains closed. More »

  • Trucks on Cheeseboro Canyon Trail

    Occasional truck traffic (approx 6 trips per day) will take place on Cheeseboro Cyn Trail weekdays between 8am & 4pm for demolition and removal of Cheeseboro Tank. Should be completed by 5/24/13. Check back for updates or call 818-889-8996. More »

California Treefrog

California Treefrog

A California Treefrog crawling out of a pond.

USGS/Chris Brown

Scientific Name
Pseudacris cadaverina (Hyla cadaverina)

Introduction
The California Treefrog is a native amphibian species occurring in stream habitats throughout the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Appearance
The California Treefrog is a small frog varying in length from1-2 inches (snout to vent). The skin in rough and cryptically colored in gray or brown with dark blotches to match the habitat. The California Treefrog does not have a dark eye stripe like the Baja California Treefrog.

Range
The California Treefrog ranges throughout most of Coastal Southern California from San Luis Obispo county south to and across the Transverse Ranges east to Joshua Tree National Park, and south through the Peninsular Ranges, including the desert slopes, into northern Baja California, Mexico.

Habitat
The California Treefrog are typically found around coastal and canyon streams and rocky washes with permanent quiet pools. In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, they can often be found coexisting with the Baja California Treefrog.

 
CA Treefrog

A California Treefrog blending into its surroundings.

USGS/Chris Brown

Feeding
California Treefrogs eat a wide variety of insects, spiders, centipedes and other invertebrates. Tadpoles feed on organic detritus and plant material.

Reproduction
In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, mating and egg-laying generally occur from February to early October after the high-flow from winter rains have decreased. Eggs are laid singly (but tend to stick together in clusters) and are attached to twigs or other stationary debris on the bottom of quiet pools in still or slowly flowing water that is typically surrounded by rocks and boulders. Eggs appear to be resistant to the negative effects of solar UV-B.

California Treefrog tadpoles are often indistinguishable from Baja California Treefrog tadpoles. Tadpoles enter metamorphosis in about 40-75 days after hatching. Juvenile treefrogs may either stay and spend the winter, or disperse to nearby sites.

Conservation Status
Though there are no significant conservation concerns for this species in California, tadpoles are sensitive to nitrites and excess nitrite concentrations from agricultural and urban runoff. The California Treefrog is one of the target species in the park's aquatic amphibian monitoring program.

Did You Know?

Backbone trail hikes lead to views of mountains, canyons, and the Pacific Ocean.

Piece by piece, a trail is forging its way along the "backbone" of the recreation area. California State Parks took the first step toward a 65-mile Backbone Trail in 1978. With 5 miles left to go, single track trails and fireroads will unite this patchwork of public parklands from east to west.