History and origin
The Common frog was first described by Linnaeus in 1758, the scientific name of this species is Rana temporaria. Rana is Latin and means frog. Temporaria is also Latin and means 'temporary', this name was given due to the large numbers of this species during breeding season and then they seem to disappear and become discrete the rest of the time.

Characteristics
This species is characterised by their blunt snout. they may be identified from other brown frogs by their larger size.

Description
=Size=
- Eggs: The eggs measure about 1.7 to 2.8 mm in diameter, they are laid in separate balls that measure about 8 to 10 mm in diameter.
- Tadpoles: The tadpoles measure 6 to 9 mm long when they exit the egg. Maximum sized tadpoles measure about 46 mm long. In the case of hibernating tadpoles, they may reach a max. size of up to 70 mm long.
- Juveniles: The juveniles measure 10 to 16 mm long when they exit the water.
- Adults: In the lowlands, they measure about 50 to 65 mm long. In the mountains, the males measure about 70 to 80 mm long and females can reach 85 mm long (max. 110 mm long).
=Morphology=
- Eggs: The eggs are laid in individual balls in 1 cluster of up to 4500 eggs (min. 700).
- Tadpoles: They have a short and long tail, finishing in a sharp point.
- Adults: A large bulky frog, a short and blunt snout. Their first finger is longer then the others (hand), their skin is quite smooth, they have no paratoid glands and have discrete dorsolateral folds. They have very complete hind feet webbing. Their pupils are horizontal and they have an internal vocal sac.
=Patterns & colours=
- Eggs: They are brown, blackish on the upper side, and have a white blotch on the underside.
- Tadpoles: The upper body is brownish, the belly is light in colour.
- Adults: They are usually light brown although sometimes brownish, yellowish, sometimes even bluish, dark green, brownish green... with irregular black markings along the flanks and back. They have on their head the characteristic 'bandit-like' mask marking of brown frogs. Their hind limbs are brownish black. Their eyes are silvery golden and their bellies are usually white, sometimes having slightly darker spots and blotches.

Geographical range
Found all over Europe except most of Spain (present along the northern coast), along Mediterranean France, in southern Italy, Greece and central and eastern parts of the Balkan peninsula.

Subspecies
- canigonensis - Oriental Pyrenees in France.
- parvipalmata - Found in north-eastern Spain.
- temporaria - Found over most of Europe.

Sexual differences
Males have during the breeding season nuptial pads (dark brown / black in colour) on their hands. Males front limbs are more robust then the females.

Seasonal variations
Only the nuptial pads on the males varies from season to season.

Diet
They feed on a large proportion of insects such as wasps, earwigs and other... spiders and even slugs and snails. Tadpoles may become cannibalistic.

Defensive habits
At first they try to escape danger by jumping away but if touched, they often flatten themselves onto the ground and raise their limbs, covering their eyes with their front legs. They may also emit a distress call.

Reproduction
The breeding season can last up to a few weeks to 2 months. Reproduction sites are any water holes, in ponds, lakes or in swamps, rivers, streams, flooded areas... The female finds a still, quite deep water hole. when the male finds the female he holds onto her under her front legs and has his hands on her chest, the male is now "glued" to the females back. The female then feels the time has come to push her eggs out so she moves over to a vegetated area in the water, ejects all of her eggs at one time which will glue to each other and sometimes be as large as a persons head. As the eggs come out of the female the male fertilizes them. The couple separate just after the expulsion of the eggs.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Rana temporaria is about 10 years, they reach their sexual maturity in second to their third year.

Habits
They are active by day and night. They come out of hibernation in January or February however in high altitudes such as the Alps and Pyrenees they may emerge as late as June They may even be seen in snow.

Call
The call sounds like a cats purr 'grouk...grouk...grouk...' each lasting up to 1.5 seconds. Males sit in the shallow water, they do so in the afternoon and at night, sound (p)www.oreilleverte.com:

Habitat
They are found up to 3000 m in altitude. They adapt to all climatic zones and habitats being sometimes very urban. They prefer cooler more humid areas, in summer they live nearer water and often share habitat with Pelophylax sp. They usually use flooded areas in the breeding season.

Predators
Birds are a great danger, also Natrix natrix, trout, sangliers, foxes, badgers....