|
|
|
 Sent
to you
by e-mail
|
|
Simply
enter your details and hit the send button
more
info |
|
Click Here
Links
Advertise
Terms of Use
Contributors
About Us
Contact Us
|
 |
Go back
| Bookmark
| Print Page 
| E-Mail Us 
Photo: G. Bradley
|
|
UK
Safari Tip:
Need help identifying amphibians and reptiles? Try this superbly
illustrated fold out ID chart - click
here
|
|
Latin name:
Rana temporaria
Size: The male is approximately 70mms from head to tail,
and the female is slightly larger.
Distribution: Can be found in most parts of the UK.
Months seen: March to October. Hibernates through the winter,
often underwater.
Life Span: Approximately 6 years
Habitat: Damp woodland, meadows and gardens.
Food: Insects, slugs and small worms.
Special features: Although called the common frog, this
species is now becoming less common in Britain, especially in rural
areas. The widespread use of insecticides, and the diminishing
number of breeding ponds has greatly reduced their numbers.
Many frogs have found a refuge in urban gardens, but here too
there are threats to the frogs survival. Domestic cats pose a
danger, and also eating slugs, which have been poisoned by slug
pellets.
 The breeding season runs from January through to April, although some frogs will continue spawning until late
summer.
Each
female lays up to 2000 eggs (called frogspawn) in water.
Only about 1 in 1,000 will survive to become a mature adult.
 After
2-3 weeks, the eggs hatch into tadpoles, which look like
little fish. The tadpoles breathe oxygen from the water
through a pair of gills located just behind the head.
 The
tadpoles remain in the water for a further ten weeks,
feeding on plants in the water. During this time they
develop front and back legs.
They also gradually lose their tails, and develop lungs. At
this stage of their lives they look like miniature replicas
of their parents, and they are now ready to leave the water
and feed on land. Their diet now switches from vegetable
matter to insects, slugs and worms. |
Did You Know: Frogs have no necks. The base of their skull rests close to the collar bones.
Amphibian ID Charts and Books in the Nature Shop
What's an Amphibian?
How to Tell the Difference between a Frog and a Toad
UK Safari Amphibian Section
|
|
|
