The ranidae family.

Part two the marsh frog.

The marsh frog is slightly bigger than the common frog, it also has a more rounded snout that helps to distinguish it from the common frog. The marsh frog eyes are also closer together, their is no black patch either behind their eyes. The female is about five inches in length with the male being slightly smaller. Although the marsh frog is bigger than a toad, a marsh frog has the smooth skin and leaping gait of a frog. Its colouration varies from a brownish colour to even bronze or green.This frog was first introduced to Britain by a zoologist called Percy Smith in 1935. The marsh frog is the largest frog that if found in Europe. They like marshland habitat and can be found around the dyke's and ditches of the Romney marshes in Kent. They can also be found in the Sussex area but they haven`t spread any further across Britain. Marsh frogs like to bask in the sun, but if they get disturbed they will quickly take to the water. They catch their food by using their sticky tongues, and feed mostly on land on mayflies and other insects and occasionally on worms. They breed between May and early June, normally a few weeks after emerging from hibernation, the males gather in water in small groups and croak loudly. They are all trying to attract females, once mated the frog spawn is deposited in clumps amongst water-weeds and the tadpoles are rarely seen. The tadpoles start to emerge from the water in September or early October. They are mainly predated by foxes or grey herons. They hibernate from late October to early November at the bottom of ponds in thick mud or stones, they start to emerge from hibernation in April.