FROGS
Frogs occur on three of the eight California Channel Islands: Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island and Santa Catalina Island.
California native Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) [Hyla]:
- Pacific tree frog: Santa Catalina Island
- Pacific tree frog: Santa Cruz Island
- Pacific tree frog: Santa Rosa Island
California toads (Bufo boreas halophilus)
Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
In 1919 the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytoni) was collected in the vicinity of Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island by Joseph R. Slevin of the California Academy of Sciences, but has not been found since. There are about 300 species of tree frogs in the New World.
In the News~
March 11, 1876 [SBDP]: “Shell-hunting on Santa Cruz Island. Placing ourselves in charge of Captain Thomas, on board the Star of Freedom, at 9 A.M. we sailed for the famed island of Santa Cruz… Our three day’s excursion was unavoidably extended to eight, and had it not been for the kindness of the captain of the Reliance, who put into the little harbor during a storm, and for the generous hospitality of the superintendent of the island, who kindly furnished us with supplies, our subsistence must have been procured from the abundance of sea gulls, frogs, and prickly-pears with which the island abounds… L. M. Cornell.”
May 8, 1887 [SBMP]: “Tent and sail. Afloat and ashore at the Island of the Holy Cross. In the sea lion’s liar… Last week a memorable trip was made to Santa Cruz… The taunt and trim little sloop Genova manned by Captain Andre Larco and sailor Joe, sailed away to the west… Lady’s Harbor than which no prettier or more picturesque spot can be found we believe… The whole landscape seemed brilliant with April grass and flowers… We had reached a fairyland. Supper was quickly prepared over a great fire of beach wood. The tent was pitched, other couches and hammock arranged under a wide branching willow, and our first night quickly passed, lulled through by the babbling music of the falls and most remarkable chorus of frogs. There must have been a national convention of them…”
