Common Frog

Rana temporaria

The Common Frog is, as its name suggests, the most common frog that you are likely to see in Britain and in Europe. It has a dark patch behind its eye.

The colour of the Common Frog varies from brown/grey to olive green, the pattern varies from spots to broken stripes

Young frog by Terry Hobbs

Frog spawn (eggs)

Frog with spawn, photo by Laurence Bard of Pond Life

Tadpoles (young frogs)

Marsh Frog

Rana/Pelophylax ridibunda

The Marsh Frog is one of three similar "green" frogs, two of which are not native. It was introduced into Kent in the 1930s and is now present in other southeast counties and SW London. (The other two are the Edible Frog -- Rana/Pelophylax esculentus -- and the Pool Frog -- Rana/Pelophylax lessonae, the latter was native and has been re-introduced into the country.) They look similar but all are variable, with or without spots, pea-green to dark brown, and often with a light stripe centrally. (Another, fortunately rare, feral introduced species is the larger, brown American Bullfrog -- Rana/Lithobates catesbeianus.)