Numerous frog species in a wide variety of colors are native to Germany. 5 of the frog species are brown. These brown frogs are presented to you in this listing with picture.

In a nutshell

  • clear brown colouration
  • lighter underside
  • are under nature protection

Brown frog species

Most frog species come in different colors. This also makes it possible to see one of the species below in light green or blue-green in nature.

Common frog (Rana temporaria)

  • Distribution: Northern and Central Europe, Northern Southern Europe, Kazakhstan, Siberia
  • Habitat: Shallow running and standing water (mating season), woody areas, parks, moors, gardens (rest of the season)
  • Size: 7 to 11 cm
  • Coloration: yellow-brown, red-brown, black-brown, females with yellow belly and red marbling, males with off-white belly
  • Pattern: Black spotted, dark brown nose stripe to tympanic membrane, dark brown temporal patch, hind legs with dark horizontal stripes
  • Shape: blunt snout, soft heel hump in a small version, glandular ridges clearly recognizable
  • Food: spiders, insects, isopods, snails, rare small mammals
  • Spawning season: February to March
  • Courtship call: growling, growling
  • Eggs: 1,000 to 4,400 in large spawning clumps

Notice: Compared to the other species, brown common frogs not only overwinter in still waters, but also in streams and even burrows. You are not picky.

Lesser Edible Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)

  • Distribution: Central Europe to Russia, northern Italy, absent near German coastal areas
  • Habitat: Standing waters rich in vegetation, ponds, pools, ditches, garden ponds, rarely bogs
  • Size: 4.5 to 5.5 cm (males), 5.5 to 6.5 cm (females)
  • Colouring: grass-green, black-brown, males are green-yellow during the mating season
  • Pattern: dark mottled, topline in light green hue, acoustic bladders white, glandular ridges tinged red
  • Shape: pointed snout, short lower legs, large and rounded heel hump
  • Food: Spiders, insects, worms, snails, small mammals
  • Spawning season: early March to late July or early August
  • Courtship call: soft purr
  • Eggs: 600 to 3,000, laid in smaller spawning clumps

Moor Frog (Rana arvalis)

  • Distribution: Central and northern Europe excluding France and Norway, western Russia, Siberia
  • Habitat: Moors, swamps, wet meadows, swamp forests, permanent wetness necessary
  • Size: 5 to 8 cm, females larger than males
  • Colouring: light or dark brown, males are often sky blue to intense blue-violet during the mating season, belly white
  • Pattern: spotted reddish brown or black, dark brown temporal spot, flanks marbled black, glandular ridges edged with white, dorsal band distinctly lighter
  • Form: short, pointed snout, slender, , hard heel hump, arched, high
  • Food: Insects, spiders, isopods, worms, snails, centipedes and bipeds
  • Spawning season: March to April
  • Courtship call: bubbling "uog"
  • Eggs: 500 to 3,000, spawn balls vary greatly in number, high risk of confusion with spawn of other frog species

Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

  • Distribution: Central and Eastern Europe to the Balkans, Near East and Central Asia, not in the Mecklenburg Lake District
  • Habitat: all year round in lakes, river meadows and marsh areas
  • Size: 10 to 16 cm, females larger than males
  • Colouring: green, rarely brown, belly clearly lighter
  • Pattern: Dark mottled upper and underside, back line in green tint, inner thighs in white and black marbling
  • Shape: long snout, pointed, legs very long, flat heel hump, small
  • Diet: Insects, worms, spiders, other frogs and their tadpoles
  • Spawning season: April to June
  • Mating call: melodic “eck-keck-keck-keck-keck” for mating, strong “oäk” for territorial matters
  • Eggs: maximum 16,000 eggs, floating below the water surface in spawning balls

Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina)

  • Distribution: France across Central Europe, Turkey to the southern Black Sea
  • Distribution in Germany: southern and central Germany, Lüneburg Heath, the islands of Rügen and Darß
  • Habitat: Areas with numerous bodies of standing water in forest meadows, mixed forests and forest edges
  • Size: up to 9 cm (females), up to 6.5 cm (males)
  • Colouring: light brown, grey-brown, red-brown, yellow-white on abdomen
  • Pattern: triangular temple patch, dark brown cross bands on legs
  • Shape: Pointed snout, very long limbs, strongly pronounced glandular ridges, slender build
  • Food: Insects, worms, snails
  • Spawning time: earlier than other native frog species from February to April
  • Courtship call: soft “weigh…weigh…weigh” for 12 seconds
  • Eggs: 400 to 1,800, are laid in a water depth of 5 to 40 cm, branches, roots and plant stalks are used for laying
  • Special feature: creates jump distances of up to 2 m

Notice: Frogs, whether brown or green, may not be caught, disturbed, injured or killed in Germany. Depending on the federal state, fines of up to 65,000 can await the perpetrator in the event of an offence.

frequently asked Questions

What other frog species are native to Germany?

In addition to the brown frogs already mentioned, there are 2 other species that make up the diversity of the group. These include the intensely green tree frog (Hyla arborea) and the pond frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus), a hybrid of the marsh frog and the small water frog.

Are frogs in the garden pond protected?

Yes. All native frogs are protected even on your property. They may not be captured and relocated without permission. This means that if a frog has made itself comfortable in your garden pond, you have to wait until the amphibian disappears on its own. Depending on the species, they are protected by the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) or the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC (FFH Directive).

How to settle brown frogs

If you want to offer your garden pond as a habitat for frogs, you have to adapt it accordingly. For this, the pond must have a minimum depth of 60 cm and offer a shallow shore zone that is equipped with aquatic plants. Water lilies are also popular. Also, avoid fountains or powerful pumps that confuse the water. Frogs also need access to your garden, for example through holes in the fence.

Category:

Animals in the garden