The common frog is one of the most widely occurring species of frogs that are found in nature. They have numerous distinct features that make them different from other frogs. So let’s have a close look at the biological and habitual qualities of the Common Frogs.
Scientific Name: Rana temporaria
Here are the common physical traits of these frogs.
Length: Typically these frogs have a length ranging between 6 to 9 centimeters.
Weight: Average weight of the common frogs is around 22.7g.
Ear Drum: The amphibians are known for having a distinct tympanum.
Legs and feet: They have short posterior and long anterior legs along with webbed feet. Their legs make it possible for them to jump to great heights.
Glands: Common Frogs are equipped with somewhat raised paranoid glands.
Teeth: They have got small fish-like teeth which they use for eating their prey.
Color: These frogs have a body color that ranges between yellow and brown. There is a distinct olive green lining along the flanks and backs of the common frogs along with a generous presence of asymmetrical dark marks. There are also red and black colored frogs that can be spotted in some parts of the world. They may also have a dark spot located right behind the eyes. The frogs usually take a greyish blue coloration during the mating season.
The albino variants of the common frogs possess yellow skin and red eyes which separates them from the standard versions of common frogs. These frogs have yellow or white underbellies along with a chevron-shaped mark around the neck. The females also have brown eyes and orange underbodies.
Sexual dimorphism: Male common frogs are shorter in height than females.
Common Frogs are found extensively throughout different parts of Europe as well as the Scandinavian region. Areas in which they are quite prevalent include Italy, Republic of Macedonia, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Albania, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Greece, Serbia, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Slovakia, San Marino, Poland, Norway, Romania, Scotland as well as United Kingdom. The common frog UK is found extensively throughout the whole landmass.Other areas that make up their distributional zone include Shetland, Isle of Lewis, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, and Orkney.
These frogs spend most of their non-breeding time in various damp places on land close to meadows, gardens and woodland areas. Common frogs prefer to breed in ponds, puddles, canals, and lakes.
These frogs hibernate during the winter months. They mostly hibernate underwater, under the piles of mud, stones, decaying leaves, logs or even under the compost heaps.
These are some of the main behavioral traits of the common frogs.
They prefer to consume living foods like crickets and fruit flies. They also love to eat houseflies, snails, slugs, young mice, worms and insects are also regularly consumed by these frogs.
Common Frog larvae are threatened by birds, fishes, dragonfly larvae, and beetles. The adult frogs are commonly eaten by herons, terns, stoats, pine martens, crows, weasels, ducks, gulls, badgers, polecats, and otters. They also experience serious life danger from domestic cats and dogs. Many of these frogs are also killed due to motor car accidents.
These are the main adaptive qualities of the common frogs.
The inner eyelids of these frogs are transparent which makes it possible for them to effectively protect their eyes when they are underwater.
Common frogs can also breathe through the surface of their skin and this makes it easier for them to hibernate during the colder months while they lie under mud piles and decaying leaves.
They also have the ability to use their skin to absorb water and this saves them from the need of drinking.
Common Frogs breed in water bodies like lakes, canals, ponds, and puddles as well as other shallow areas. They prefer to consume a lot of food during the breeding months. The male frogs come early in the breeding grounds and look for the adult females. A swelling develops on nuptial pads of male frogs. The throats of males tend to turn white at the time of mating. The spawning occurs during the night. Females lay about 1000-2000 eggs once breeding is over.By the third year of their lifecycle, the common frogs attain their sexual maturity.
These frogs typically live for about 8 years in the wild.
Common frogs are often chosen by many as pets. Here are the main things to remember while petting common frogs at home.
It is important to have a proper tank that is suitable for housing them.
Insects, snails, and worms form the bulk of their diet.
It is important to maintain hygiene at all times so that the frogs remain healthy. The fecal matter should be cleaned and removed regularly.
Common frog is listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the IUCN.
These are some of the most interesting facts associated with common frogs.
Have a look at these stunning pictures of common frogs.
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