Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

🐸 Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

The Common Frog, also known as the European Common Frog or grass frog, is one of the most widespread and familiar amphibians across Europe. With its smooth skin, long legs, and remarkable ability to adapt to various habitats, it plays an essential role in many ecosystems.

🔍 Identification

• Size: 6–10 cm (2.4–4 in)
• Color: Highly variable — typically olive green, brown, yellowish, or grey
• Markings: Dark blotches on the back and a distinctive dark “mask” behind the eyes
• Skin: Smooth and moist
• Limbs: Long hind legs, well-suited for jumping and swimming
• Eyes: Prominent, golden with horizontal pupils

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

• Found throughout most of Europe, including the UK, Scandinavia, the Balkans, and western Russia
• Habitat:
  • Ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams during the breeding season
  • Damp grasslands, gardens, woodlands, and meadows the rest of the year
• Can live in urban and rural settings alike

🌙 Behavior

• Mostly nocturnal, but active by day during damp or rainy conditions
• Excellent swimmers and jumpers
• In winter, they hibernate in mud at the bottom of ponds or under logs and leaf litter

🐣 Breeding & Life Cycle

• Breeding season: Early spring (as soon as temperatures rise above 5°C/41°F)
• Males arrive at breeding ponds first and call with a low croak
• Spawn: Laid in clumps (not strings like toads) — each female lays 1,000–2,000 eggs
• Tadpoles emerge in 2–4 weeks, develop over the next 12–16 weeks
• Metamorphose into froglets typically by early summer

🍽️ Diet

• Adults:
  • Insects, worms, spiders, slugs, and other small invertebrates
  • Catch prey using a sticky tongue
• Tadpoles:
  • Initially herbivorous (algae and plant matter), then shift to omnivorous diet

⚠️ Conservation & Threats

• IUCN Status: Least Concern — still common but declining in some areas
• Threats:
  • Habitat loss, pollution, road deaths, and climate change
  • Disease such as ranavirus in some populations

🌟 Fun Facts

• Can absorb oxygen through their skin, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods
• Skin color can darken or lighten slightly to match surroundings or reflect temperature
• Return to the same pond where they were born to breed
• Frogspawn is often one of the first signs of spring in many regions

🧭 Summary

The Common Frog (Rana temporaria) is a resilient, adaptable amphibian that thrives in a range of European habitats. Its life cycle—from egg to tadpole to frog—is a classic sign of seasonal change, and its presence is a strong indicator of a healthy environment. Though still common, continued conservation efforts are important to ensure this species remains a part of our ecosystems.

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