Endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs

Elizabeth Gallegos, left, and colleague Adam Backlin hike rugged San Gabriel Mountains terrain to reach the endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs’ habitat.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The mountain yellow-legged frog species is susceptible to a skin fungus linked to amphibians that are vanishing around the world.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

USGS field biologist Adam Backlin uses a special net to catch mountain yellow-legged frogs from a stream in the San Gabriel Mountains.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A jumpy mountain yellow-legged frog leaps into a special net during the USGS biologists’ field trip to check on the endangered species’ welfare.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A mountain yellow-legged frog powers itself along in a pool in the San Gabriel Mountains.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A mature mountain yellow-legged frog suns itself by a stream in a deep canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)