Parsley Frog

Pelodytes punctatus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is nicknamed the mud jumper in countries such as Germany for its ability to leap 50 to 70 cm in a single bound. Its tadpole can grow larger than the adult before metamorphosis.

Weight

2 g – 4 g

Size

3.5 cm – 4.5 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Amphibian Temperate forest Grassland

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Fun facts

It is nicknamed the mud jumper for its ability to leap 70 cm in a single bound.
Its tadpole can grow larger than the adult.
It can produce as many as 1,600 eggs a year, spread over several clutches.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Open and semi-open country, often with pine and holm oak, on chalky soils of south-western Europe
Birth weight: A tiny dark brown egg, coated in a thick layer of clear jelly
Size at birth: A tadpole after hatching, which can grow larger than the adult itself before metamorphosis
Sexual maturity: 1 year (both sexes)
Gestation / incubation: The egg develops over a period the sources do not put a figure on
Litter / clutch size: 40 to 400 eggs per clutch, and 1,000-1,600 a year across several clutches

Sources consulted: Tandfonline (age structure growth study); BioDB; JungleDragon; GoneFroggin; Animals JRank; Animalia.bio; Wikipedia (Common parsley frog)