Common frog

Common Frog
Rana temporaria

Where to find them
Possibly our most recognisable amphibian, the common frog is distributed throughout Britain and

Ireland

, and can be found in almost any habitat where suitable breeding ponds are near by.

Garden ponds are extremely important for common frogs and many populations in suburban areas depend on them.

Common frogs have smooth moist skin. Frogs are often found close to fresh water in habitats that remain damp throughout the summer. Outside of the breeding season they can roam up to 500 metres from a breeding pond.

Identification
Adults can grow to 9cm (nose to tail). They are generally a shade or olive-green or brown, with a dark patch (or 'mask') behind the eyes. Frogs often have bands of darker striping on the back legs. Many individuals have irregular dark markings on the back. Colouration is extremely variable: yellow, pink, red, orange and black individuals are often reported to our Wildlife Information Service.

Lifecycle
Spawning takes place during early spring, starting in the south of Britain as early as January. Tadpoles generally take up to sixteen weeks to grow back legs, then front legs before they metamorphose into tiny froglets, ready to leave the water in early summer (often June, but in some ponds this may be as late as September).

'Mature' tadpoles are faintly speckled with a gold/brown colouration which distinguishes them from the black tadpoles of the common toad. Common frogs feed on a variety of invertebrate prey, slugs and snails particularly. This makes them very beneficial to gardeners.

Protection
In Great Britain and

Northern Ireland

, the common frog (and its spawn) is protected by law from trade and sale.