The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) is a large water frog native to Europe and parts of western Asia. Males typically reach around 100 mm in size, while females are slightly larger. They exhibit a range of colors from dark green to brown or grey, often with lighter lines. Tadpoles can grow up to 190 mm in length.
Marsh frogs are found across much of Europe, extending into the Middle East and parts of Russia, with some isolated populations in Saudi Arabia and the Russian Far East, as well as introduced populations in the UK. They thrive in various water bodies and hibernate in winter underwater or in burrows, using the Earth’s magnetic field to find breeding ponds.
Adults have large heads, allowing them to eat a diverse diet that includes arthropods, small fish, and even small birds. A study in Thrace found that flies made up 40% and beetles 20% of their diet. Tadpoles consume a variety of organic matter, including algae and detritus.
