of Northern California, and scientific back-and-forth, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced in April 2006 the designation of about 450,000 acres (1800 km2) of critical California habitat for the threatened frog. This protected habitat did not include any land in Calaveras County, the setting of Mark Twain's short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", which features this species. 2008 On September 17, 2008, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to more than triple the habitat of the California red-legged frog, citing political manipulation by former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald at the United States Department of the Interior. According to the Los Angeles Times, "development and destruction of wetlands have eliminated the frogs from more than 70% of their historic range. MacDonald would have reduced what was left of the frog's range by 82%." San Mateo County and Monterey County seem to have some of the largest healthy populations of these frogs, especially in coastal wetlands. 2010 In March 2010, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced of protected land for the species throughout California, which has implications regarding development and use of such land. The largest population of the frog will be given protection on a in Placer County. 2015 A new law designates the California red-legged frog the “state amphibian.” Presently, it is subject to protection under both federal and state laws passed in 1996. Although the designation as official state amphibian does not provide legal protection to the frog as a threatened species, it does highlight the importance that California places on the frog's preservation. See also Red-legged frog Estivation Ledson Marsh — Annadel State Park, Sonoma County Potentilla hickmanii — Hickman's potentilla References Further reading "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California" — by Robert N. Fisher and Ted J. Case, USGS. External links "A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California" — Rana draytonii — article + images. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: California red-legged frog SF-NPS: Rana draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) — detailed description and habitats. Washington Post: "Calif. Frog at Center of Protection Debate" Rana (genus) Amphibians of the United States Amphibians of Mexico Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Fauna of the Baja California Peninsula Amphibians described in 1852 ESA threatened species Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird Taxa named by