Living Beings
    Source-identified Rana temporaria; Documentary organism photograph. Framed for display
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    Rana temporaria at Muhalnitsa, Botevgrad (01.03.2019) 01.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph. Dimitǎr Boevski · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Common Frog

    Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    AnimaliaAmphibiaAnuraRanidae

    The common frog moves between terrestrial feeding habitat and freshwater breeding sites. Its life cycle includes a swimming tadpole that differs markedly in body form and feeding from the adult frog.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. ClassAmphibia
    6. OrderAnura
    7. FamilyRanidae
    8. GenusRana
    9. SpeciesRana temporaria
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Deuterostomia clade
    8. Chordata phylum
    9. Craniata subphylum
    10. Vertebrata clade
    11. Gnathostomata clade
    12. Teleostomi clade
    13. Euteleostomi clade
    14. Sarcopterygii superclass
    15. Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
    16. Tetrapoda clade
    17. Amphibia class
    18. Batrachia superorder
    19. Anura order
    20. Neobatrachia suborder
    21. Ranoidea superfamily
    22. Ranidae family
    23. Rana genus
    24. Rana subgenus
    25. Rana temporaria species
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    Physical traits

    Adults have a smooth, variable brownish coat, a dark patch behind the eye and long hind limbs.

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    Habitat and range

    Moist woodland, grassland and gardens provide terrestrial shelter. Standing freshwater is used for breeding.

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    Diet and nutrition

    Adults eat invertebrates. Tadpoles use different aquatic food resources during development.

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    Behavior and activity

    Seasonal movements bring adults to breeding water. Activity and overwintering respond to temperature and moisture.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Egg masses develop into tadpoles, which grow limbs and undergo metamorphosis before taking up a more terrestrial life.

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    Geographic distribution

    The species occurs across much of Europe and into parts of temperate Asia, with local limits set by climate and habitat.

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    Ecological role

    Frogs connect freshwater and terrestrial food webs as both consumers and prey.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Powerful hind limbs aid swimming and jumping; permeable skin makes access to moisture important.

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    Conservation

    Loss of ponds and surrounding terrestrial habitat can affect local populations. Healthy breeding water alone is not the whole habitat requirement.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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