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Pool frog

Its hind limbs are shorter than the those of the two other species of waterfrogs.

(photo: Judit Vörös)

The POOL FROG is the smallest member of the waterfrog group in Hungary, it rarely exceeds a snout-vent length of 6-7 cm. Its colouration is widely various, usually greenish with brownish-green patches or stripes. During breeding season the male . Its belly is rarely patterned, it is usually pure white or bright snow-white. The thighs have yellow transversal strips in contrast to the Marsh Frog which has grayish-white stips. Their limbs are short, when the thighs are positioned perpendicularly to the body axis, the heels do not reach each other. Callus internus of the hind foot has a sharp edge, it is almost as big as that of the common spadefoot. During breeding season, the male changes its colour to bright neon yellow, greenish-yellow or golden green and develop nuptial pads of light colouration on the inner surface of its thumbs. Its paired vocal sacs are white.

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Pool frog

The pool frog is usually active at daytime.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Male pool frogs in breeding colouration

In the breeding season male pool frogs turn into bright green with a golden hue. Their vocal sacs are white.

(photo: Tibor Kovács)

Choir in breeding colours

The bright golden-green males can be easily spotted from a large distance.

(photo:  Tibor Kovács)

Pool frog

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(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Hind legs of a pool frog

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(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Ventral side of a pool frog

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(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Male pool frog vocalizing

The males has white vocal sacs.

(photo: Róbert Dankovics)

Pool frogs in amplexus

The colour difference between sexes is spectacular in the breeding season.

(photo: Róbert Dankovics)