The lake frog is the largest representative of its species. Its habitat is quite wide, so the shape of the color varies depending on the territory. Populations are usually numerous.
Lake frog: description
She has an elongated body with a slightly pointed muzzle. Top color may vary. It is usually green in color, but sometimes gray and brown frogs are found. The whole body is covered with large dark spots of uneven shape.
Most representatives of this species have a well-defined light strip with small patches along the spine and head.
Bottom of the body has a yellowish or off-white color. Almost black spots are often present. The eyes are golden. Lives up to 10 years in the natural environment. The lake frog grows up to 17 cm in length. It should be noted that males are slightly smaller than females, but they have resonators. In the daytime, it periodically enters the water to increase the moisture of the skin, but at night, when the air temperature drops, the frog is not in danger of drying out the surface of the body.
Habitat
Amphibian prefers suchnatural zones, like mixed and broad-leaved forests, steppes, in the southern part it can be found in deserts, in the north it inhabits some areas of the taiga. Thus, its habitat is Central and Southern Europe, Asia, Kazakhstan, Russia, the Caucasus, Iran, North Africa.
The lake frog lives in fresh water reservoirs (more than 20 cm deep). Inhabits ponds, estuaries and banks of rivers, lakes. You can also see it within the boundaries of cities along the concrete banks of reservoirs, in thickets of willows and reeds. The presence of a person nearby is calm.
Even the most extreme conditions can adapt lake frog. The habitat of individuals of this species can therefore be very different, they are able to survive in places heavily polluted with waste, however, in this case, anomalies in development are possible.
Easily and quickly populates also artificial dams and reservoirs. When water bodies dry up, it can migrate to a new habitat, overcoming up to 12 km.
Behavior
The lake frog is a thermophilic species. It is active around the clock at temperatures from +8 to +40 ° C. During especially hot hours, hides in the shade of plants.
The animal spends the day both on the shore and in the water. On land, it basks in the sun, while being stationary. However, having excellent hearing and vision, at the slightest danger it jumps into the water. Here the frog finds a safe place and hides, often just hiding in the silt. It can stay in the water for a long time. And only after making sure thatno danger, returns to its original place.
Being a good swimmer, she still avoids fast currents, although she is not afraid of even a wave.
The lake frog's lifestyle allows it to stay overwinter in the same pond. Sometimes she moves in search of deeper places or springs. Where the water does not freeze all year round, the frog remains active all the time. Wintering lasts about 230 days, all this time it is in the mud or at the bottom. It rises to the top by mid-May, when the water warms up enough. In case of frost, a large number of frogs die.
In habitat-friendly areas, the number of amphibians is simply amazing. Often, frogs sit on the shore in huge flocks, and the surface of the reservoir is simply teeming with numerous protruding muzzles.
Diet
What does the lake frog eat? It all depends on age, habitat, gender and season. They feed both on land and in water.
Ground hunting takes place just a few meters from the shore. This amphibian is a real predator. Due to its impressive size, a small lizard and a snake, a mouse, a chick and even a smaller frog can become its potential prey.
In the water, newts, small fish and their own tadpoles become dinner. The main diet includes invertebrates - crustaceans, insects, mollusks, centipedes and worms.
The lake frog can catch its prey even on the fly. Usually these are butterflies, flies, dragonflies. While hunting, she actively useswith his tongue, throwing it a few centimeters forward. Sticky mucus helps keep moving prey. If the prey is at a great distance, then the amphibian creeps up to it carefully. The frog is also very precise at jumping, landing in the right place.
The main diet of tadpoles is small algae.
How does the lake frog reproduce?
The female reaches puberty by the age of three. Unlike other amphibians, reproduction occurs much later in time. The frog waits until the water temperature rises to +18 °C. Usually it is the end of May or June. She lays her eggs in the same reservoir in which she lives, she does not make special migrations for this purpose.
From the moment the first frog appears after wintering to the start of spawning, it takes from one week to a month.
For reproduction, they gather in large groups. Males during this period are especially polyphonic and very mobile. When they croak, resonators swell at the corners of their mouths. Also, during the breeding season, males have seals on the front leg on the first toe - nuptial calluses.
Their "songs" attract the attention of females. Mating takes place before spawning. However, fertilization is external. This happens in almost all amphibians, the lake frog was no exception.
The description of this process is as follows: the male covers the female in such a way that his front paws are on the chest. Thus, simultaneous sweeping occurssperm and eggs into the water, which contributes to the fertilization of more eggs. Sometimes two or three males can “hug” one female at once.
The breeding period is one month. One female can lay up to 6,000 eggs.
Tadpoles of the lake frog
Tadpoles appear 3-15 days after fertilization. Immediately after birth, they spread throughout the pond. During the day they are more active, at night they hide at the bottom. In just 2-3 months, they reach a length of 9 cm. However, after metamorphosis, the frogs are only 1.5-2.5 cm.
The most favorable water temperature for them is + 20-28°С, at +5-6°С development stops, and at +1-2 °С they die. Not all tadpoles will turn into an adult lake frog. Most of them will become food for predatory fish and various birds.
