Nature ReachAn amphibian with a watery beginning
Meet the frog beside the pond
Rana temporaria
A frog can leap from a damp bank into the water. Earlier in its life, it looked very different: a swimming tadpole with a tail.
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Ponds and damp places in Europe
The frog represented here is the common frog, Rana temporaria, widespread in Europe. It breeds in fresh water and also uses damp places on land, including gardens, meadows and woodland.
Keeping skin moist
Frogs breathe partly through their skin, so they often live in damp places that keep their skin from drying out. A common frog can find food on land as well as returning to water to breed.
Three things to notice
- Common frogs have smooth skin and a dark patch behind each eye.
- Their eggs are laid in clumps, with each egg surrounded by a clear jelly coating.
- A tadpole grows hind legs before front legs, and its tail is gradually absorbed as it becomes a frog.
Growing and feeding around the pond
Catching insects
Frogs eat small animals, including insects. A dragonfly that comes within reach can become a meal for a waiting frog.
Growing from a tadpole
A common frog begins life as a tadpole swimming in fresh water. As legs develop and the tail is absorbed, its body changes into that of a young frog.
Find the frog in Nature Reach
Open the free pond map and find the frog. Listen to its introduction, then explore its connections to dragonflies and tadpoles.
Explore the pond
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Meet this speciesSources
- Common frog identification and life cycle, Froglife
- Rana temporaria habitat and development, Animal Diversity Web
Reviewed by Nature Reach on 17/10/2026.