Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)

Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)
Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)

The pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) is a small European frog from the family Ranidae. Named by Italian herpetologist Lorenzo Camerano in 1882 to honor Michele Lessona, pool frogs typically grow to 8 cm long, with females occasionally reaching 9 cm. Males are usually about 5 cm long, and females are around 6 to 6.5 cm. They have brown or green bodies with dark blotches, ridges from each eye, and a cream or yellow stripe down the back. Male vocal sacs are cream or white.

Found across central Europe, pool frogs inhabit damp areas, slow rivers, ponds, bogs, and marshes. There are small populations in the UK, Spain, Sweden, and Norway. Once thought to be non-native in the UK, studies show that English pool frogs are related to their Swedish and Norwegian counterparts. The creation of new ponds supports the growth of pool frog populations, even in urban environments.

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