From My Perch: Amphibians

Herpetology - the branch of zoology dealing the study of reptiles and amphibians or creeping animals. This word derives from Greek herpeton = creeping animal or from herpein = to creep. Interesting, all the different things we can study.

The California Red-legged Frog is an endangered species. In 2004, we met 2 zoologists or rather herpetologists who were also birding (ornithologists) at Point Reyes National Seashore. Today, they were birding on their day off but they were also checking on the frogs at Abbott's Lagoon and we saw several of these endangered frogs. Since the camera was in my hands, I took a few pictures.

This frog species was once very abundant in California and was a favored amphibian in Mark Twain's short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County written in 1865.

But my interest in frogs starts with Blanchard's Cricket Frog which I saw this spring in Texas. I was impressed with the emerald green stripe on its back. This is a subspecies of the Northern Cricket Frog.

I have seen other frogs, including the Rio Grande Leopard Frog, but did not get good pictures.