Peatland wildlife
| Frog (Rana temporaria) |
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Frog (Rana temporaria)
Description
The common frog is Ireland's only frog and one of the most
common peatland animals, especially during the breeding season
in spring. Its body colour can vary from olive green to dark
brown, providing excellent camouflage. Its eyes protrude from
the top of its head so it can be almost fully submerged in water
and still keep a watchful eye on its surroundings.
Behaviour
While they are suited to life in water, frogs spend most of
their lives on land. They take cover in the undergrowth and
feed on anything small enough for them to swallow whole, including
beetles, worms, caterpillars and slugs. When frogs move to exposed
pools during the breeding season they are an easy target for
predators such as foxes, water fowl and birds of prey.
Breeding
An increase in temperature in early spring stimulates frogs
to move to their breeding grounds. The males arrive in the water
first and wait for the egg-laden females. When the female arrives,
the male wraps his forelegs around her in a constrictive embrace
known as 'amplexus', from which she cannot escape. During this
union the female starts to release her eggs encased in jelly,
which the male fertilises by releasing his sperm over them.
The jelly absorbs moisture from the surrounding water to form
a protective barrier.
A single mass of spawn may contain up to 2000 eggs. Within
a week or so these will hatch into tiny tadpoles, which begin
to feed on algae and plant matter. Over the following months
they will develop fore and hind legs, absorb their tails into
their bodies and eventually leave the water as young froglets.
Throughout their development tadpoles are very vulnerable, with
most falling prey to carnivorous invertebrates such as water
beetles, bugs and dragonfly larvae – in fact typically
only 2-3% of the eggs a frog lays will develop into adult frogs.
Status and protection in Northern Ireland
The decline of peatland areas over the last 100 years has reduced
the habitat available to frogs in Northern Ireland. The common
frog is listed on Schedule
7 of the Wildlife Order, which means they cannot be sold
alive or dead at any time.
