FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Common frogs are found in the continent of Europe, from Great Britain to central Russia. The common frog (Rana temporaria) is also known as the grass common green frog or the russet frog. It is a semi-aquatic amphibian which means it can survive on land and water, but it prefers to stay in regions near a source of water. The common frog has three distinct life stages, it starts as aquatic larva, then becomes a terrestrial juvenile, and then reaches adulthood. Common frogs are not same as Bufo bufo, the common toad, they are a different species altogether. Common frogs are born with different colors from olive green to gray-brown, brown, olive-brown, gray, yellow, pink, red, and rufous. They can adapt the color (lighten or darken) of their skin to match their surroundings. They also have dark patches on their backs, stripes on their hind legs, and a dark mask behind their eyes. The common frog has brown eyes with horizontal pupils and transparent inner eyelids to protect its eyes while swimming.
Male and female common frogs can be differentiated by their size as females are larger than males. Common frogs can breathe through their lungs and their skin. A loss of habitat is one of the major causes of the decline in the current common frog population. The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) works towards the conservation of amphibians and reptiles including this species. Read on to discover some of the most interesting common European frog facts. After reading about the common tree frog, do check out our other articles on the pool frog and the frilled lizard.
The common frog (Rana temporaria) is a type of frog that belongs to the amphibians category. As its name suggests, it is commonly found in the Eurasian region, including in the United Kingdom and Russia. In semi-urban and urban areas, garden ponds are the most important habitat for the common frog to survive and thrive in.
The common frog (scientific name: Rana temporaria) belongs to the amphibian class of animals. It is a semi-aquatic animal which means it lives on the land and in water too.
The exact numbers of common frogs living are difficult to find. However, a loss of habitat is one of the major reasons for the species' declining numbers. Efforts are being made to stop this from happening, including creating more garden ponds for their habitat.
A common frog can often be found near a freshwater body. They live in marshes or in long grasses and they are found in a number of European countries including the UK and Russia. They are sometimes found in the snow-covered Alps too! Garden ponds are an extremely important habitat for common frogs.
Common frogs are often found in damp places around garden ponds, among marshes, and in long grasses. All of these places are important for common frogs. They remain highly active most days, except when hibernating during winter. They are also found in snow-covered regions in northern Europe, where they are known to be trapped under snow for almost nine months of the year. They are known to come out of hibernation around February when temperatures begin rising. Common frogs are known to travel to garden ponds and spawn once the climate becomes warmer. In the Alps, where winter lasts for a longer duration, they come out of hibernation near the beginning of June.
The common frog is known to live a solitary life except during the breeding season. These frogs live by themselves for the majority of their lives.
The common frog has a life span of 5-10 years. Although due to the loss of their natural habitat, there has been a steep decline in their population in recent years.
Male common frogs compete for female attention by producing a choir of croaks. Common female frogs are attracted to the male who has the loudest and longest croak. This leads to a lot of noise being made by males. As the females enter the pond, a male will try to grab her attention by jumping onto her, while kicking the other males who are also looking to get the same female's attention. This male frog then remains on the female's back until she lays some eggs. As these eggs are laid, the male sprays his sperm onto them. Tadpoles hatch from these eggs after three months. The common frog breeding season happens during spring in suitable breeding ponds, or whenever the temperature reaches 57 F (14 C).
The IUCN has listed this species as a species of Least Concern. However, the common frog population is declining rapidly all over Europe due to the loss of its natural habitat. The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) is working hard to improve the situation.
The common frog looks like a regular frog, as its name suggests. It has smooth, moist skin which is also sticky. It uses this sticky skin to catch its prey. They can jump to great heights due to their long back legs and webbed feet and they have colorful skin which can darken or lighten to adapt to their surroundings. Common frogs have various bands of stripes on their back legs.
Some people find them cute, and some do not. They are certainly interesting-looking creatures. From their slimy skin, which is very moist, to their croaking voice and their bulgy eyes, they are fascinating animals.
Male common frogs are known to make croaking noises to attract female common frogs. The air from their lungs is forced over the vocal cords in their throats to make this noise. Other than croaking during the mating season, these frogs are not known to take part in any vocal communication during the rest of the year.
The common frog has an average body length of 3-5 in (7.6-12.7 cm). They are small in size and male frogs are known to be bigger than females.
The common frog is known to move at a top speed of 5 mph (8 kph). They have long hind legs which make it possible for them to jump long distances.
The common frog weighs 0.04-0.05 lb (0.8 oz) on average. As a result of their small size, they are lightweight and agile.
There are no specific names for female and male common frogs. Males are simply known as male common frogs and females are known as female common frogs.
Baby common frogs are known as tadpoles, polliwogs, or tiny froglets. After tadpoles reach the age of around four months, they start to grow back legs and then front legs. After they have absorbed their tail, they leave the water. These tiny froglets leave the water usually in the early summer or early spring, after having taken 16 weeks to grow.
Most common frogs feed on a variety of insects, including insect larvae, woodlice, spiders, worms, slugs, and snails. This species can smell worms and use this scent to locate and eat them. Baby common frogs, froglets, or tadpoles are herbivores and feed on a variety of algae along with decaying plant matter.
The common frog is not known to be poisonous, unlike its cousins the poison dart frog and the golden poison frog. Common frogs and tadpoles can hence be held in hands without any worries.
The common reed frog plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance in nature. If you have a simple garden pond, you are likely to find some common frogs, froglets, and tadpoles in it. It is important to let them thrive in their natural habitat rather than caging them. They prefer living around garden ponds so should not be kept as pets.
Common frogs develop faster in warmer climates in comparison to colder climates.
They are known to change the color of their skin (either darken or lightening it) according to their surroundings, similar to chameleons.
Pollution is a major reason for the loss of their natural habitat which has led to a decline in the common frog population overall.
Common frogs are semi-aquatic creatures which means they can survive on land and in water. As tadpoles, they live in water. When they grow older, they spend more time on land and as adults, they live on damp areas of land that are close to a water body. Most of the time, they live around a pond or marshy region. During spring they can travel up to 1,640 ft (500 m) away from a pond or other water source though.
Common frogs are nocturnal creatures which means that they are most active during the night. They are also active during summer and spring and are known to hibernate during winter.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other amphibians including the spotted salamander or the marine toad.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our common frog coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.