Amphibians

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Probably the most familiar of Kents amphibians, the common frog frequently uses garden ponds for spawning.

The Latin name 'temporaria' refers to the 'temporary' nature of this frog, often seen in large spawning aggregations, then not again until the following spring, spending the summer months widely dispersed in the countryside.

Often the first native amphibian to colonise a new pond, it is not obviously apparent that the species is thought to be in widespread decline. KRAG recorders have reported frequency as low as 15% of ponds surveyed in the wider countryside.

We commonly hear from people that they have too much frog spawn in their garden pond. This can never be true! Frogs are explosive breeders and only a tiny fraction of the eggs laid will metamorphose into froglets and only a tiny fraction of these will mature into adult frogs.

Some members of the public also worry that frogs will harm fish in a pond. It is true that male frogs can be a little over exuberant in the breeding season and grab hold of a fish in the hope that it is a female frog, this rarely results in fatalities.

You can help common frogs by digging a garden pond today! Just remember not to stock it with fish as they will eat most, if not all of the tadpoles. In time you may find newts colonise the pond and eventually the frog population declines, this is a natural phenomenon, frogs survive by choosing newly created and ephemeral ponds.