Edible Frog

Distribution: Western, Central and Eastern Europe

Size Length: 5‒11 cm

Life Span: 12 years

Diet: Omnivore

Social life: Solitary

IUCN red list status: Least Concern



From above, you are looking at the back of the frog, known as its DORSAL side. From this view, edible frogs often appear greyish-green or olive green with dark spots which vary in size and number. They usually have a light mid-dorsal line from snout (nose) to the cloaca (the rear orofice which serves both excretion and reproductive functions). From below, edible frogs have a light belly with dark spots. Males have grey vocal sacs positioned behind the mouth, but they do not have temporal spots which are dark spots which often appear on the side of a frog's head behind the eye.

The hind (back) legs are long and strong, as in the majority of frogs, giving it the ability to jump a great distance and to swim quickly. Frogs propel themselves by kicking water backwards using a synchronised extension of their hind limbs and webbed feet.

It is mostly an aquatic species associated with wetlands such as ponds, channels, ditches and slow moving rivers and streams.



The edible frog is considered to be a hybrid between two morphologically similar frog species; the Pool frog and the Marsh frog. As a result it shows characteristics of the two and it still has the ability to reproduce.