The Perez’s Frog (Pelophylax perezi) is a freshwater wetlands amphibian in the Ranidae family of water frogs. It is also known as the Iberian Waterfrog, the Iberian Green Frog, or the Coruna Frog.
The Perez’s Frog is green, olive or brown. On its back is a green line that runs from head to tail. There are small 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 Perez’s Frog is native to Iberia: southern France, Portugal, and Spain. It is common in the Iberian Peninsula. It prefers temperate forests and shrublands, in wetlands, such as rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, marshes, and flood plains.
It is nocturnal, more active during the evening. During the day it hides under stones, in the mud, or among 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 three months.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM