The Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus) is a wetlands amphibian.

The Caucasian Parsley Frog is green, olive or brown. On its back are irregular green patches that look like parsley leaves. There are also warts on its back. Its underbelly is creamy-white. It has a slender body with long hind (back) legs, and no tail. It has protruding eyes with vertical pupils. It has webbed feet.

 

It grows to 3-5 centimetres (1-2 inches) long. 

The Caucasian Parsley Frog is native to the Caucasus countries of Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and southern Russia. It prefers wetlands and weedy ponds and streams. It also likes water in pine and oak forests. 

It is nocturnal, more active during the evening. During the day it hides under stones, in the mud, or in the aquatic reeds. It eats insects at night. Its predators include birds, especially owls. 

It hibernates (sleeps) in winter.

The female lays 40-300 eggs near reeds in a still body of water. The eggs metamorphose into frogs after about 3 months. 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM