The common European frog was thought to have been introduced to Ireland but is now deemed to be a native species due to genetic analysis. Ireland is the most westerly part of its range. Common frogs have a three stage life cycle ” aquatic larva, terrestrial juvenile, and adult. They have fat bodies with a rounded snout, webbed feet and long hind legs adapted for swimming in water and hopping on land. Adult common frogs have a body length of 6 to 9 centimetres (2.4 to 3.5 in). Their backs and flanks vary in colour from olive green to grey-brown, brown, olive brown, grey, yellowish and rufous. Both black and red individuals have been found and albino frogs have been seen with yellow skin and red eyes. Common frogs are known to be able to lighten and darken their skin in order to match their surroundings. Newly hatched tadpoles are mainly plant eating. They feed on algae, detritus, plants and some small invertebrates. They become fully carnivorous once their back legs develop and feed on small water animals or even other tadpoles when food is scarce. Juvenile frogs feed on invertebrates both on land and in water. Adults only feed on land. Common frogs eat mainly insects (especially flies), snails, slugs and worms. They feed on any invertebrate of a suitable size, catching their prey on their long, sticky tongues. They do not feed during the short breeding season. Common frogs eat mainly insects (especially flies), snails, slugs and worms. Outside the breeding season, common frogs live a alone in damp places near ponds or marshes or in long grass. They are normally active for much of the year, only hibernating in the coldest months. Common frogs breed in shallow, still, fresh water such as ponds, with spawning commencing sometime between March an late June, but generally in April . Tadpoles are eaten by fish, beetles, dragonfly larvae and birds. Adult frogs have many predators including storks, birds of prey, crows, gulls, ducks, terns, herons, pine martens, stoats, weasels, polecats, badgers and otters. Some frogs are killed, but rarely eaten, by domestic cats, and large numbers are killed on the roads by motor vehicles.
