Like most areas on the planet, North America, unfortunately, has its share of endangered species. Some of the most threatened species on the planet are amphibians, especially frogs. Luckily, learning more about North America’s endangered frogs has led to better conservation efforts, and further education will hopefully help to raise these endangered populations in the future. Here are 5 endangered frogs of North America.
1. Mississippi Gopher Frog
One of North America’s most endangered frogs is the dusky gopher frog, also known as the Mississippi gopher frog. This little frog is dark green, brown or black and grows to about three inches long. The dusky gopher frog was once found across the Southern part of the United States, living in marshes and forests. Today, the frog only lives in two counties in Mississippi. Habitat loss and pollution are the main factors in this species’ demise.
2. Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog
The mountain yellow-legged frog is another endangered species that is being closely monitored. These frogs, which are found in California and Nevada, can be broken into two sub-species. The Southern mountain yellow-legged frog is classified as endangered, while the Sierra mountain yellow-legged frog is threatened. These frogs are light yellow or brown with black spots, and have bright yellow or orange undersides. The use of pesticides is thought to be the leading cause in this species’ drop in population.
3. Oregon Spotted Frog
Oregon spotted frogs are also an endangered North American species. These frogs grow to about four inches long and are usually brown, dark red or green in color. As their name suggests, Oregon spotted frogs are native to Oregon, but are also found in Washington and British Colombia, Canada. It is thought that severe predation and the introduction of invasive plant species has led to the downfall of these frogs.
4. Aquatic Tree Frog
The Plectrohyla crassa, sometimes called the aquatic tree frog, is an endangered species native to Mexico. These frogs live along rivers and lakes in moist forests. They are grey or light brown in color and have small spikes on their thumbs. Habitat loss is the leading cause of this species’ dip in population.
5. New Jersey Chorus Frog
The New Jersey chorus frog is yet another of North America’s endangered species. These frogs are a rich brown color with a white and a darker brown stripe along their sides. They are found in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. New Jersey chorus frogs are mainly endangered due to destruction of their natural habitat.
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Featured Image from Joel Henry/Unsplash
