Species of the Month: Jan/Feb 2018

Common Frog Rana temporaria

 

Our commonest and most easily identified amphibian, the Common Frog is found in a variety of damp habitats including garden ponds - an important breeding habitat for the species. Frogspawn can be found in south Wales from as early as January. Spawn records are particularly useful, providing information about breeding times and the location of good pond habitats.

This species can be found throughout the SEWBReC area; you can view the Welsh distribution of Common Frog here on Aderyn.

Adult frogs are easy to identify as our other native frog species, Pool Frog, is found only in Norfolk. Spawn is also easy to confirm as frogspawn is laid in clumps (as shown above) whilst toadspawn is laid in long strings. Newts also lay spawn, but their individually laid eggs are usually wrapped in plant material. Details about identifying spawn can be found from Froglife. General information about Frogs is available from Froglife and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.

If you spot frogs or frogspawn during January and February (or at any other time of year), please send us the record, ideally via SEWBReCORD of the LERC Wales App. Instructions on how to submit records are available here.