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Marsh frog submerged in water

Marsh frog

Marsh frogs like to spend all their time in, or within jumping distance of, water. Both powerful swimmers and amazing jumpers, they often just stand in the mud, ready to leap into deep water at the first sign of trouble and landing with a resounding plop. They are robust and warty members of the green frog group, have a laughing call and a talent for singing whose quality is judged by females waiting to mate. Europe's largest native frog (reaching 17cm long) are now enlarging their range, partly naturally but mostly through being sold for garden ponds.

Scientific name: Pelophylax ridibundus

Rank: Species

Common names:

  • Eurasian marsh frog,
  • Lake frog,
  • Laughing frog

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Distribution

The Marsh frog can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China, Europe, Russia, United Kingdom. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Marsh frog distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

About

The Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) is the largest frog native to Europe and belongs to the family of true frogs. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Edible Frog and Pool Frog. These three species, now again in the genus Pelophylax, are often referred to as "green frogs" to distinguish them from the more terrestrial European Rana species, which are known as "brown frogs" (best exemplified by the Common Frog Rana temporaria).

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Classification

  1. Life
  2. Animals
  3. Vertebrates
  4. Amphibians
  5. Frogs and toads
  6. Ranidae
  7. Pelophylax
  8. Marsh frog

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