Rana temporaria
Key Facts:
Colour: Green-brown / Olive-brown / Khaki / Yellowish
Adult Size: length 6 – 9 cm
Lifespan: 5 – 10 years
Where: Mile End Park (near marsh-like or pond area)
Description
The adult common frog varies in colours, including khaki, olive-green, brown-green, brown, yellowish to even red. They have in particular a dark patch behind the eye and long back legs used for jumping. Males are distinguishable from females by their swelled thumbs, known as ‘nuptial pads’, which are used to grip onto females in mating.
Lifecycle
Adult frogs lay eggs, called spawn, and tadpoles hatch from them. Tadpoles eat algae and small invertebrates, and slowly develop into tiny froglets. As they grow, they grow back, then front legs and absorb their tails. They can then leave the water and explore on land. In winter, they find shelter and come out to search for food during milder weather.
Habitat
These frogs mostly live in solitary outside of mating season, staying in damp places near ponds or marshes. They typically hibernate from late October to January in Britain, where they then migrate to bodies of water to spawn. This is common of all frogs, as their offspring are tadpoles which require water to live.
Female Common Frogs can lay up to 4’000 eggs in one season! This is due to the high mortality rate of her offspring, which complete metamorphosis by June / July time.
BioCapture 