David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
_______________________________________________
Amphibians and Reptiles 24 - Pool Frogs
POOL FROG Pelophylax lessonae
POOL FROG Pelophylax lessonae
POOL FROG Pelophylax lessonae
- The 'Green' or Water
Frog Pelophylax species complex consists of two
true species, the Pool
Frog, the Marsh
Frog Pelophylax
ridibundus and a hybrid between the two, the Edible Frog P. esculentus, the population of which
can only be sustained by cross-breeding of this hybrid with one of the
original 'parent' species. (Source data: 'Amphibians and Reptiles of
Surrey',
Wycherley and Anstis). It is difficult to comprehend how
such an arrangement of apparent gene recycling can confer any biological
advantage, but presumably there must be a purpose otherwise it is
difficult to imagine why this situation has arisen in the first place.
Ideally the hind leg length should be measured in order to distinguish
between these frogs. However, anyone who has tried to approach a 'green'
frog will be only too well aware of the difficulty in doing this as they
are remarkably well camouflaged and the usual first sign of their presence
is a tell-tale plop into the nearest water - before they have actually
been seen by the would-be spotter. The photographs were taken in Brittany,
where for some reason at least some of the frogs appear to be more
approachable than the photographer has found them to be at some other
locations. The
younger of these frogs was a particularly nicely marked individual and
both have a pale green dorsal stripe. It is suggested that the texts of 'Amphibians and Reptiles - A
Natural History of the British Herpetofauna' should be
consulted for further information about these rather bizarre genetics.
With thanks to Julia Wycherley for her valuable second opinion about the
identity of the Brittany frogs.
- David would like to dedicate this page to the memory of Dr Julia Wycherley M.B.E. She was one of life's great characters, a staunch champion of herpetofauna, particularly green frogs, and her work in the field was of considerable significance and value.
·
David’s films of reptiles and amphibians may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.
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