• Visitors stand on the boardwalk of Grand Prismatic, the park's largest hot spring which is ringed with orange, brown and yellow runoff channels.

    Yellowstone

    National Park ID,MT,WY

Columbia Spotted Frog

A Columbia Spotted Frog swimming
Scientific name: Rana luteiventris

Identification
  • Abundant and best known amphibian in Yellowstone.
  • Maximum length is 3.2 inches; newly metamorphosed juveniles are less than one inch long.
  • Upper surface of the adult is gray-brown to dark olive or even green, with irregular black spots; skin is bumpy; underside is white splashed with brilliant orange on the thighs and arms on many, but not all, individuals.
  • Tadpoles have long tales and may grow to 3 inches long.
Habitat
  • Found all summer along or in rivers, streams, smaller lakes, marshes, ponds, and rain pools.
  • Lays eggs in stagnant or quiet water, in globular masses surrounded by jelly.
Behavior
  • Breeds in May or early June, depending on temperatures.
  • Tadpoles mature and change into adults between July and September.
  • Tadpoles eat aquatic plants; adults mostly eat insects, but are highly opportunistic in their food habits (like many other adult amphibians).

Did You Know?

Upper Geyser Basin Hydrothermal Features on a Winter Day.

Yellowstone contains approximately one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features. There are over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including over 300 geysers, in the park.