The lake frog is the largest representative of its species. Its habitat is quite wide, so the color form varies depending on the territory. Populations are usually numerous.
Lake frog: description
She has an elongated body with a slightly pointed muzzle. The color of the upper part may be different. Usually it is green, but sometimes gray and brown frogs are found. The whole body is covered with large dark spots of uneven shape.
In most representatives of this species, a clearly distinguishable light band with small inclusions passes along the spine and head.
Below the body has a yellowish or off-white color. Almost black spots are often present. The eyes are golden. In the natural environment lives up to 10 years. 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 skin's moisture; at night, when the air temperature drops, the frog is not at risk of drying out the body surface.
Habitat
Amphibians prefer natural areas such as mixed and deciduous 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 riverbanks, lakes. You can also see it in the city limits along the concrete shores of reservoirs, in the 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 highly contaminated with waste, but in this case anomalies in development are possible.
It also easily and quickly populates artificial dams and reservoirs. When the reservoirs dry, 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. In particularly hot hours, hiding in the shade of plants.
The animal spends the day both on the shore and in the water. On land, basking in the sun, while being stationary. However, having excellent hearing and vision, at the slightest danger jumps into the water. Here the frog finds a safe place and hides, often just clogging in the silt. In water, it can be long enough. And only after he is convinced that there is no danger, he returns to his former place.
Being a good swimmer, she still avoids fast currents, although she is not even afraid of the wave.
The lifestyle of the lake frog allows it to remain wintering in the same pond. Sometimes she moves in search of deeper places or to springs. Where the water does not freeze all year round, the frog remains active constantly. Wintering lasts about 230 days, all this time it is in the silt or at the bottom. Rises up to the middle of May, when the water warms up enough. In the case of frost, a large number of frogs die.
In a favorable habitat, the number of amphibians is simply amazing. Often, frogs on the shore sit in huge flocks, and the surface of the reservoir is simply teeming with numerous protruding muzzles.
Diet
What does a 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 coast. This amphibian is a real predator. Due to its impressive size, its potential prey may be a small lizard and a snake, a mouse, a chick and even a smaller frog.
In the water, lunch becomes newts, small fish and their own tadpoles. Invertebrates - crustaceans, insects, mollusks, millipedes and worms are included in the main diet.
A lake frog can catch its prey even on the fly. Usually these are butterflies, flies, dragonflies. During the hunt, she actively uses her tongue, throwing it a few centimeters forward. Sticky mucus helps to keep moving prey. If the victim is at a great distance, then the amphibian creeps up to it carefully. The frog also very accurately knows how to jump, landing in the right place.
The main diet of tadpoles is small algae.
How does a lake frog breed?
The female reaches puberty by three years. Unlike other amphibians, reproduction occurs much later in time. The frog waits until the water temperature rises to +18 ° C. This is usually the end of May or June. She lays eggs in the same reservoir in which she lives; she does not make special migrations for this purpose.
From the appearance of the first frog after wintering to the start of spawning, it takes from one week to a month.
For breeding, they gather in large groups. Males in this period are especially many voices and very mobile. When croaking, resonators swell in their mouth corners. Also, for the breeding season in males, on the first foot on the first finger, seals appear - mating calluses.
Their “songs” attract the attention of females. Before laying eggs, mating occurs. However, fertilization is external. This happens in almost all amphibians, and the lake frog is no exception.
The description of this process is as follows: the male embraces the female in such a way that his front legs are on the chest. In this way, sperm and eggs are simultaneously thrown into the water, which contributes to the fertilization of more eggs. Sometimes one or two females can immediately “hug” one female.
The breeding period is one month. One female can lay up to 6, 000 eggs.
