Post by Ceratodromeus on May 18, 2015 0:37:03 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Pelophylax
Species: P. ridibundus
Description; This is the largest frog species native to Europe. Adults range from 42-105 mm(1.6-4.1 in){1} in SVL, with larger individuals growing up to 120mm(4.7in) in SVL. Females are slightly larger then the males, averaging 79mm(3.1) in SVL, while males averaged 71mm(2.7in) in SVL{2} The mottled green, brown, and black skin allows it to blend in with its watery surroundings, allowing it to ambush its prey. Coloration varies throughout the distribution of the specie(e.g. Frogs from France tend to be lighter in color then frogs from Romania or Iran.)
Dietary habits: the marsh frog is an oppurtunistic predator, taking just about anything it can fit into its mouth. It's diet consists primarily of insects, though fish and mammals(shrews, field mice, and voles) were also taken. Snakes, lizards, and other frogs(including cannibalized members of the specie) were also found in these frogs' stomach, further demonstrating that these frogs are not limited to insects, but can take a wide variety of animal groups.{1,3}
Geographic range: A very wide-ranging species, the marsh frog can be found from France to Romania, and even Iran.
Reproduction: Not much is known about their reproductive habits, but at metamorphisis the males average a length of 16.55mm for males and 16.23mm for females.{4} Females grow and mature slower then the males do, though their growth is more intensive then that of the males.{4}
References:
{1} Ruchin, Alexandr B., and Maxim K. Ryzhov. "On the diet of the marsh frog (Rana ridibunda) in the Sura and Moksha watershed, Mordovia." Advances in Amphibian Research in the Former Soviet Union 7 (2002): 197-205.
{2} Behbahani, Mehrnoosh Amanat, Mohsen Nokhbatolfoghahai, and Hamid Reza Esmaeili. "Intraspecific variation in Pelophylax ridibunda (Rana ridibunda) in Southern Iran: life history and developmental patterns."
{3} BALINT, Noemi, et al. "ON THE DIET OF THE Pelophylax ridibundus (ANURA, RANIDAE) IN ŢICLENI, ROMANIA." (2010).
{4} Socha, Małgorzata, and Maria Ogielska. "Age structure, size and growth rate of water frogs from central European natural Pelophylax ridibundus-Pelophylax esculentus mixed populations estimated by skeletochronology." Amphibia-Reptilia 31.2 (2010): 239-250.
