The males always arrive first and strike up a chorus of loud croaking to attract females. They may travel up to half a mile to find a site where they gather in large numbers. When the adults emerge from hibernation they migrate to congregate at various breeding sites. Reproduction: Breed around February and spawn around March, Tadpoles hatch and grow from April to May, Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets, and leave the pond in June/July. Habitat : Damp vegetation, camouflaged ponds, hedgerows. The frog’s long sticky tongue is attached to the front part of the mouth, so that it can flick out to catch food. Frogs make lots of different sounds, especially in spring during the breeding season when they return to the wetland in which they were born to breed.įrogs feed on slugs, insects, worms, spiders and similar prey, but do not predate aquatic organisms. In winter frogs hide in frost-free refuges, under tree stumps, in stacks of turf, or in rock piles where they enter torpor until the following spring.įood: Slugs, worms, flies and other insects.
HELP THE FROGS SKIN
Each time the frog croaks, the loose skin on his throat expands. The frog’s hind legs are very muscular which helps it to swim in the water and leap on land. The webbed feet are like flippers and help the frog to swim away from danger very fast. This colour change takes about two hours. A frog can also make its skin become darker to match its surroundings. The colourful patterns on the frog’s skin help to disguise it from enemies such as rats, herons and hedgehogs. The only regular markings are the dark bars across the limbs, and streaks behind and in front of the eyes. The basic colour ranges from a pale green-grey through yellow to a dark olive-coloured brown. Skin colour and markings vary enormously. Under the water they breathe through their skin. A frog’s skin is loose on its body and moist. Nostils in front of the eyes are used by frogs to breathe when they are on land. Frogs have an ear drum behind the eyes and their hearing is good. When frogs leap they draw eyes their back into their sockets to protect them from damage. Their large eyes bulge out of the top of their head so the frog can keep a sharp lookout for food and danger. Their body is well adapted to this dual life. Frogs are protected under the European Union Habitats Directive and by the Irish Wildlife Act.įrogs are amphibians which means they can survive in the water and on land. The Common Frog ( Rana temporaria) is the only species of frog found in Ireland and is listed as an internationally important species.