#cascade frog

[herpsandbirds]

Hong Kong Cascade Frog or Hong Kong Torrent Frog (Amolops hongkongensis), family Ranidae, Hong Kong

ENDANGERED.

Eggs are laid on rock faces in the splash zones of cascades

photographs by Artur Tomaszek

[mountrainiernps]

Today is National Wildlife Day! From old growth forests to glacier-covered peaks, Mount Rainier has many habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. You can find 65 mammal species, 14 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles, 182 species of birds, and 14 species of native fish in the park. Invertebrates like insects may represent 85% of the animal biomass in the park. What animals have you seen, or would you like to see, while visiting Mount Rainier National Park?

Did you know that you can contribute to our knowledge of park wildlife by reporting your wildlife observations? Any bird, mammal, amphibian, reptile, fish, bee, bug, butterfly or other invertebrate can be entered into our online database, which includes a feature to upload photos: https://arcg.is/rLOiy Not sure what you saw? Check out our Animals of Mount Rainier webpage!

NPS photos of some Mount Rainier wildlife observed so far in 2025: Clark’s nutcracker, Cascade frog, hoary marmot, and a mountain goat.

[cephalogodess]

I found tons of frogs yesterday; I almost cried! I think they are Cascade’s frogs, Rana cascadae. 

[herpsandbirds]

Dafang Cascade Frog (Amolops dafangensis), family Ranidae, found in Dafang County, Guizhou Province, China

Newly described (2024).

These frogs are found in mountainous streams filled with moss covered rocks.

Males do not have vocal sacs.

photograph via: Shi-Ze Li, Jing Liu, Xiao-Cong Ke, Gang Cheng & Bin Wang

[herpsandbirds]

Cascade Frog (Amolops ottorum), family Ranidae, NW Viet Nam

Described in 2019.

photographs via: A. V. Pham, N. B. Sung, et al.

[mountrainiernps]

Many lakes inside the park spend the winter months blanketed by snow and ice. Some, like those at higher elevations, may not melt out until May or June. So how do animals that rely on an aquatic environment survive the winter? What does an amphibian like the Cascade frog do to survive the snowy, icy winter at Reflection, Mowich or Tipsoo Lakes?

Rana cascadae, cascade frogs, can be found from northern California to British Columbia up in the mountains. This amphibian has an affinity for elevation, especially the wet areas like streams, ponds, pools, and marshy areas near timberline. When the snow melts, these frogs might be found out and about in the montane environments that stay wet through the seasons. But when the cold temperatures start and the snow falls, where do our cascade frogs go?

They go into the mud. Yes, mud. The frogs dig into the mud under ponds and lakes. Protected under the mud, they hibernate through the winter. They can get oxygen through their skin in the slightly looser mud they prefer. Living 5-7 years and sometimes up to 10, Cascade frogs spend several months each year sleeping in the mud. The key is being in mud that’s under at least one foot of water. This insulating water can keep the mud from freezing which keeps the frog from freezing.

While not the stereotypical form of hibernation that most folks think of with bears, cascade frogs also turn out to be great winter sleepers. Which do you think sounds better, sleeping like a black bear or a cascade frog? ~ams

 More information on frogs and amphibians in the national park can be found here https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/amphibians.htm .

These photographs are from years past and do not reflect current conditions. NPS/Spillane Photo. Snow and ice covered Reflection Lake. Forested ridge in background. May, 2014. NPS/Brouwer Photo. Cascade frog sitting in vegetation in water at Mowich Lake. July, 2014. NPS/Hui Photo. Small rocky islet with tree and plants in Mowich Lake. Clear water shows rocks on the lake bottom. July, 2016.

[mountrainiernps]

World Animal Day

What is your favorite memory of an animal interaction in the park? Seeing a Cascade fox or mountain goat for the first time? Laughing at the antics of a marmot? Listening to bird song in the early morning, or watching bats swoop silently in the calm of an evening? Mount Rainier National Park is charged with protecting the wildlife of the park, just like the park protects the meadows, forests, glaciers, and the mountain itself. These treasures are preserved for their own sake but also so that you and future generations can experience them. However, these animals can only be protected with your help. Please stay on trails to protect habitat, drive carefully on park roads, dispose of trash responsibly, and do not feed any animals to help Keep Wildlife Wild. Thank you!

NPS Photo of a sooty grouse, hoary marmot, Cascade frog, and Cascade red fox. ~kl

[mountrainiernps]

Cascade frogs (Rana cascadae) are found in lakes and ponds throughout the park. This amphibian starts laying its eggs as soon as the water thaws, from late May to early July depending on elevation. Eight to 20 days later the larvae (tadpoles) emerge. Once they metamorphose, females can reach lengths of 3 inches (7.5 cm), while males are smaller, with a max length of 2.3 in (6 cm).

NPS Gifs ~kl