1897 sciagraph (X-ray photograph) of P. lessonae (then Rana Esculenta), from James Green & James H. Gardiner's "Sciagraphs of British Batrachians and Reptiles"
The pool frog is a small frog which rarely grows to more than 8 cm long, although females can grow up to 9 cm. Males are typically around 5 cm long, while females are around 6–6.5 cm long. These frogs are brown or green, with dark blotches along their backs, a pair of ridges running from each eye and a cream or yellow stripe down the middle of the frog's back. The vocal sacs on the male are cream or even white.[2]
Distributionedit
The pool frog is found across most of central Europe from the west coast of northern France to the Western part of Russia. There are also small populations of pool frogs in the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden and Norway.[1] Pool frogs were previously thought to be a non-native species in the UK, but studies have shown that English pool frogs are related to the Swedish and Norwegian populations.[2]
The pool frog is found in damp areas with dense vegetation, or in calm, slow flowing rivers, ponds, bogs or marshes.[2]
According to Amphibiaweb populations of this frog survive in urban areas and even fisheries. The creation of new ponds and other bodies of water leads to increased dispersal and a growth in the population of these frogs.[3]
The pool frog has not always been recognised as a native British species. Part of the reason for this is that specimens are known to have been introduced from southern Europe (though not from Scandinavia). However research has now shown that the potentially native UK pool frogs are closely related to Scandinavian frogs, not to frogs from further south. A native origin is most likely.[4]
The Herpetological Conservation Trust website states that "The Pool Frog is a Europeanfrog and was formerly recorded from two sites in East Anglia although it was lost from one of these in the middle of the 19th century. It was presumed extinct in the wild at the last remaining site by 1995. A single individual known from this population survived in captivity until 1999. Other populations have become established in the UK and it is known that some of these included individuals of British origin in their founding stock."
An English Nature reintroduction project is underway in Breckland, where pool frogs were introduced to a single site in 2005.
The edible frogPelophylax kl. esculentus is a hybridogenetic hybrid of the pool frog Pelophylax lessonae and the marsh frogP. ridibundus. Its populations are maintained however through other crossings by hybridogenesis.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2022). "Pelophylax lessonae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T58643A177068753. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T58643A177068753.en. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
^Beebee, Trevor J. C.; Buckley, John; Evans, Ivor; Foster, Jim P.; Gent, Antony H.; Gleed-Owen, Chris P.; Kelly, Geoffrey; Rowe, Graham; Snell, Charles; Wycherley, Julia T.; Zeisset, Inga (2005). "Neglected native or undesirable alien? Resolution of a conservation dilemma concerning the pool frog Rana lessonae". Biodiversity and Conservation. 14 (7): 1607–1626. doi:10.1007/s10531-004-0532-3.
^Berger, L. (1970). "Some characteristics of the crossess within Rana esculenta complex in postlarval development". Annales Zoologici. 27: 374–416.
External linksedit
BBC News article on the reintroduction
Movie with sound Youtube
February 16, 2024
pool, frog, pool, frog, pelophylax, lessonae, european, frog, family, ranidae, specific, name, chosen, italian, herpetologist, lorenzo, camerano, 1882, order, honour, master, michele, lessona, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificatio. The pool frog Pelophylax lessonae is a European frog in the family Ranidae Its specific name was chosen by the Italian herpetologist Lorenzo Camerano in 1882 in order to honour his master Michele Lessona Pool frogConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder AnuraFamily RanidaeGenus PelophylaxSpecies P lessonaeBinomial namePelophylax lessonae Camerano 1882 SynonymsRana lessonae Camerano 1882 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Pool frogs in Britain 4 Hybridogenesis 5 References 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp 1897 sciagraph X ray photograph of P lessonae then Rana Esculenta from James Green amp James H Gardiner s Sciagraphs of British Batrachians and Reptiles The pool frog is a small frog which rarely grows to more than 8 cm long although females can grow up to 9 cm Males are typically around 5 cm long while females are around 6 6 5 cm long These frogs are brown or green with dark blotches along their backs a pair of ridges running from each eye and a cream or yellow stripe down the middle of the frog s back The vocal sacs on the male are cream or even white 2 Distribution editThe pool frog is found across most of central Europe from the west coast of northern France to the Western part of Russia There are also small populations of pool frogs in the United Kingdom Spain Sweden and Norway 1 Pool frogs were previously thought to be a non native species in the UK but studies have shown that English pool frogs are related to the Swedish and Norwegian populations 2 The pool frog is found in damp areas with dense vegetation or in calm slow flowing rivers ponds bogs or marshes 2 According to Amphibiaweb populations of this frog survive in urban areas and even fisheries The creation of new ponds and other bodies of water leads to increased dispersal and a growth in the population of these frogs 3 Pool frogs in Britain edit nbsp Pelophylax lessonaePelophylax lessonae is one of only four amphibian species recognized by the UK government as protected under its Biodiversity Action Plan The reasons for declining populations are decreased pond habitat from human encroachment and also air pollution leading to over nitrification of pond waters The pool frog has not always been recognised as a native British species Part of the reason for this is that specimens are known to have been introduced from southern Europe though not from Scandinavia However research has now shown that the potentially native UK pool frogs are closely related to Scandinavian frogs not to frogs from further south A native origin is most likely 4 The Herpetological Conservation Trust website states that The Pool Frog is a European frog and was formerly recorded from two sites in East Anglia although it was lost from one of these in the middle of the 19th century It was presumed extinct in the wild at the last remaining site by 1995 A single individual known from this population survived in captivity until 1999 Other populations have become established in the UK and it is known that some of these included individuals of British origin in their founding stock An English Nature reintroduction project is underway in Breckland where pool frogs were introduced to a single site in 2005 Hybridogenesis editSee also Hybridogenesis in water frogs The edible frog Pelophylax kl esculentus is a hybridogenetic hybrid of the pool frog Pelophylax lessonae and the marsh frog P ridibundus Its populations are maintained however through other crossings by hybridogenesis 5 References edit a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2022 Pelophylax lessonae IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T58643A177068753 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2022 1 RLTS T58643A177068753 en Retrieved 16 October 2022 a b c Pool Frog www froglife org Retrieved 2022 05 25 AmphibiaWeb Pelophylax lessonae amphibiaweb org Retrieved 2022 05 25 Beebee Trevor J C Buckley John Evans Ivor Foster Jim P Gent Antony H Gleed Owen Chris P Kelly Geoffrey Rowe Graham Snell Charles Wycherley Julia T Zeisset Inga 2005 Neglected native or undesirable alien Resolution of a conservation dilemma concerning the pool frog Rana lessonae Biodiversity and Conservation 14 7 1607 1626 doi 10 1007 s10531 004 0532 3 Berger L 1970 Some characteristics of the crossess within Rana esculenta complex in postlarval development Annales Zoologici 27 374 416 External links editBBC News article on the reintroduction Species page at the Herpetological Conservation Trust website Movie with sound Youtube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pool frog amp oldid 1132989257, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
