Snow Frog Mating (Katak Salju Kawin)

The European common frog (Rana temporaria) has adapted to a wide variety of conditions, increasing its range over most of Europe.

Emerging from a partially frozen pond more than 6,000 feet high in the Alps, European common frogs (Rana temporaria) set out to find mates and begin breeding activities.

The search for mates often begins underwater, before surface ice has melted. Photographer Cyril Ruoso could hear the calls of male snow frogs in spring even through the ice of Alpine ponds.

Snow frogs mate (katak salju kawin) in a position called amplexus, with the smaller male frog clasping the female from behind in a ride that can last two days or more. As she lays eggs, he expels sperm to fertilize them.

Snow Frog pairs can begin hibernation in amplexus, turning it into a months-long embrace that may provide a breeding advantage by allowing mating as quickly as possible once warm weather arrives.

Eggs of high-elevation frogs may be 30 percent larger than those of lowland females, giving tadpoles a head start.

source:
ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/snow-frogs/ruoso-photography?soucre=email_inside

Classification of European common frog (Rana temporaria)

Kingdom Animalia C. Linnaeus, 1758 – animals

Phylum Chordata Bateson, 1885 - chordates

Class Amphibia Gray, 1825 - amphibians

Order Anura (Fischer von Waldheim, 1813) Gray, 1825

Superfamily Ranoidea Rafinesque, 1814

Family Ranidae Rafinesque, 1814 - frogs

Genus Rana C. Linnaeus, 1758 - frog

Species Rana temporaria C. Linnaeus, 1758 – european common frog

 

Common names:

English: Common Frog, European Common Frog, European Common Brown Frog, European Frog, Grass Frog

Croatian: livadna smeđa žaba

Czech: skokan hnědý

Danish: Butsnudet Frø

German: Grasfrosch

Polish: Żaba trawna

Rumanian: broasca roşie de munte

Slovak: skokan hnedý

Spanish: rana común

references:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Frog
- www.biolib.cz/en/taxonposition/id330/
- taxonomicon.taxonomy.nl/TaxonTree.aspx?id=47660&tree=0.1

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