3 Frogs from Wildwood for ID

[jdoherty]

I took these pics during a visit to Wildwood in Kent. I know they were not photographed in the wild but would still appreciate help with IDs. They do seem quite similar despite the colouration. My guess is marsh frogs but I'm probably completely wrong.

Thanks, John

[Gill Catton]

Marsh frogs for me too

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Marsh frogs for me too

Me too!

[jdoherty]

Many thanks Gill and Aeshna for confirming my original thoughts. It always amazes me that the same frog can have such variable markings. I remember when I first took the pics, I thought I had taken photos of three different species.

John

[Malx]

So those are all the same type of frog? That's what you're saying, right?

Okay. That's me out of the frog recognition scrabble game forever....
The frame/shape is almost identical, I agree, but the markings and colourings are hugely different, even allowing for the light conditions etc etc. Given that they're commercial photos, they may each have been taken in disparate Continents over the course of a lifetime, I suppose, but on balance I give up, right now...


Nice little critters, though!

[Sorry, JDoherty, just basing my opinion on the monogrammed pictures, which may or may not have been archived, etc etc.]

[jdoherty]

Hi Maix

I actually took all three photos on the same day during a visit to Wildwood in Kent. As I said in my posting, I also thought they were three different species. I did some research and came to the tentative conclusion that they could all be marsh frogs but wasn't totally sure. Hence I posted the pics on WAB for confirmation.

John

[Gill Catton]

Yes they come in all sorts of colours. They all tend to have a similar head shape though (big and strongly triangular), similar textured skin and sort of flat glassy looking eyes. Our other frog (the common one) always has a dark 'mask' behind its eyes and is a much prettier frog (as frogs go!)!

You can't be as confident on the continent though where marsh frog will hybridise with other similar species like the pool frog (that we don't really have here in any great numbers), then you're down to looking at things like toe length to seperate them!!

[jdoherty]

Thanks Gill for this extra info. I'm not sure if I'll ever want to measure a frog's toe but you never know.

Thank, John.

[Ukwildlifeo]

They have marsh frogs in the first enclosure(s) as you come in but round near the pine martens in the water vole enclosure there are pool frogs - but Ive never seen them of the water voles there!

I must pop back to wildwood next time im in Kent

[jdoherty]

Yes they were in an enclosure near the entrance. The enclosure was very overgrown the last time I visited but very well kept when I took these pics a few years ago. I didn't see any voles or pool frogs on any of my visits.

John