Italian pool frog facts for kids
The Italian pool frog (Pelophylax bergeri) is a type of frog. It belongs to the Ranidae family, which includes many common frogs. You can find this frog in Italy and on islands like Sicily, Elba, Corsica, and Sardinia. It loves living near rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, and marshes. Good news! Experts say this frog is not currently in danger of disappearing.
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About the Italian Pool Frog
What Does the Italian Pool Frog Look Like?
The Italian pool frog can grow to about 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. This measurement is from its nose to its rear end. It has a pointy nose and a head shaped like a triangle. Inside its mouth, its tongue has a small notch. It also has tiny teeth on the roof of its mouth.
Its skin is smooth, not bumpy like some other frogs. The frog's color can change depending on where it lives. Most often, it is green with black spots. But some frogs might be reddish-brown or grey. A light-colored stripe usually runs down the middle of its back. Its belly is greyish-white with dark marks. The back legs have dark stripes too.
How Do Male Frogs Call?
Male Italian pool frogs have special pouches near their mouths. These are called vocal sacs. They puff up when the male frog makes a sound. You can only see these sacs when the frog is calling. Their call is a deep, croaking sound. Each croak can last up to one and a half seconds.
Where Do Italian Pool Frogs Live?
Native Home and New Places
The Italian pool frog naturally lives in mainland Italy. You can find it south of cities like Rimini and Genoa. It also lives on the islands of Sicily, Elba, and Corsica. People have also brought this frog to Sardinia.
Preferred Habitats
These frogs like slow-moving streams and rivers. They also enjoy lakes and swamps. You can find them in areas around these water bodies. They can live in places as high as 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet) above sea level. This is quite high up in the mountains! The frog has also been introduced to the United Kingdom. However, it is not clear if they still live there.
Status of the Italian Pool Frog
Why Are Some Frogs Disappearing?
The biggest problem for the Italian pool frog is that its watery homes are being drained. This means their swamps and lakes are drying up. Because of this, the number of these frogs seems to be slowly going down.
Is the Italian Pool Frog in Danger?
Even though some places are losing frogs, the Italian pool frog lives in many areas. It is quite common in many spots. There are also a lot of these frogs in total. So, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has said it is of "least concern". This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
See also
- Hybridogenesis in water frogs
