Common frog

Common frog
Rana temporaria

Fact File

Range:	Adults grow to around 9cm long. Usually some shade of green or brown though colouration is variable (yellow, pink, red, lime-green, cream, black). Most individuals have irregular dark blotches on the back and a dark ‘mask’ behind the eye; the legs are usually stripy. They're widespread and common but are thought to be declining. Common frogs are protected by law from trade/sale.
Photos: Sivi Sivanesan/Froglife (spawn); Sue North (tadpole & frog head); Sam Taylor/Froglife

The common frog is easily our most recognisable amphibian. They’re found throughout Britain and Ireland, in almost any habitat where suitable breeding ponds are near by. Common frogs have smooth skin and long legs for jumping away quickly. Garden ponds are extremely important for common frogs, particularly in urban areas.

A year in the life...

Spring	Adult frogs emerge from their overwintering sites in early spring and head straight to a pond to breed; frogs reach breeding age at 2-3 years old. Males have a single vocal sac under the chin and may ‘piggy back’ to the pond on a female. Clumps of spawn (eggs) are laid in ponds anytime from January (in south-west England) onwards. Depending on local weather conditions, two to four weeks later tadpoles will hatch out. As they grow the tadpoles become faintly speckled with gold/brown, which distinguishes them from common toad tadpoles which are black; they feed on algae and water fleas. After around 16 weeks the tadpoles start to grow back legs, followed by front legs. When they have fully absorbed their tails they leave the water as tiny froglets, usually in early summer but sometimes as late as September.
Summer	In early summer, but sometimes as late as September, when tadpoles they have fully absorbed their tails, they leave the water as tiny froglets. Adult frogs may be seen around ponds or in damp areas of the garden as they attempt to cool off in the hot weather. Summer is also the time when frog disease ranavirus is active.
Autumn	Adults and tiny new froglets spend autumn preparing for hibernation. They feed on insects, slugs and worms. If the weather stays warm then ranavirus outbreaks may continue into autumn.
Winter	Common frogs spend the winter sheltering under rocks, in compost heaps or at the bottom of ponds. They don’t hibernate as such, and may take advantage of milder patches of weather to come out and forage

Primary threats

Degradation of habitats and the introduction of disease.

More on...
O Amphibian Disease
O Frogwatch
O Frequently asked questions about frogs and toads.
O Check out our frog gallery on Facebook.