Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina)

Taxonomy: 

Kingdom (regnum): Animals (Animalia)

Phylum (phylum): Chordates (Vertebrata)

Class (classis): Amphibians (Amphibia)

Order (ordo): Frogs (Anura)

Family (familia): True frogs (Ranidae)

Genus (genus): Rana

Species (species): dalmatina

Distribution and Habitat:

Agile Frogs are found in open woodlands and swampy meadows of North, Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia. Mountains up to 1000 m. In Hungary agile frog is frequent.

Physical description

This species are skinny and have long limbs and a pointy snout. Adult males are rarely larger than 5-6 centimeters, while females can get up to 6-8 centimeters. Its ventral surface is light brown, reddish-brown, or light greyish-brown with very little contrast. There are triangles reaching from the temple to the eardrum, which are dark brown. The underside of the Agile Frog is white without any spots. During mating season, the males often become dark brown. The tail of the larvae of Agile frog is obvious coarsely dark spotted. Belly often dotted silvery grey.

Behavior

Rana dalmatina is active during the first half of the day and at twilight. During the reproductive period, it is active throughout the day and night. If the frog perceives danger, it escapes by very long, 1-2 m, and high, to 1 m, leaps. Hibernation starts at the end of September - end of October and lasts until late January - March. During winter and dry periods they spend their time under vegetation, logs and rocks. The agile frog prefers light deciduous mixed forests with a lot of water. The open land around a forest is often also populated, as long as it is connected to the forest by shrubs. In dry, warm forests, this species often also lives far away from the water. Reproduction usually occurs in March to April. Breeding choruses are not formed. Amplexus is pectoral (axillary). The clutch contains 400-2000 eggs. Eggs are deposited at night on underwater vegetation in the most open parts of the pool. Metamorphosis occurs from late June to the beginning of August (and sometimes to October). Like many other amphibians the Agile Frog is very important for the Ecosystem. It eats insects and it serves as food for many other birds and reptiles.