Slovenian frogs | Matej Vranič

What do you know about the Slovenian frogs? Below you can find comprehensive report about Slovenian frogs, that was published in the April 2013 issue of National Geographic Magazine in Slovenia. I present you some facts and my experiences of taking photo reportage.

The moor frog’s scientific name, Rana arvalis means “frog of the fields”. Male specimen can develope a blue colouration for a small period of two or three days a year.

The European tree frog (Hyla arborea) is a small tree frog. It can be found in treetops where well-hidden prey on insects. It can also be hidden under the tree leaves, not visible, even standing less than a meter away from her. Their thin legs with round suction pads on the fingertips enable them to jump rapidly.

In Slovenia, live 13 species of frogs in total and all of them are protected. They are divided into: European fire-bellied toads, toads (common toad and green toad),Pelobates fuscus, Hylidaes, True frogs (agile frog, moor frog, common frog, lataste frog, pool frog, marsh frog, edible frog).

In the tractor trails or in small puddles, with at least some water, the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) quickly find their living space.

Couple of moor frog during spawning. The frogspawn is growing fast when it comes into contact with water and in a few minutes it becomes to its normal form. During the mating season the male frogs thicken the thumb, which enable them to firmly adhere to spawning female and disable other males to forced it out of the female.

Edible frog (Rana esculenta) can make big jumps, up to 50 cm high to catch the prey (my video on this link https://vimeo.com/44518339). They can eat all that can be placed in their mouth.

Lifecycle from tapdole to common frog usually takes 60 days, after that they are ready to leave the water. Tadpole receives oxygen from the water through the gills, after transformation through the lungs from the air.

At the beginning of the spring, when frogs begin the migration from hibernating places to breeding sites many of them (annually approximately a million) end under the wheels of vehicles. At some critical points are warning signs with regulated under the road passages, which allow them to migrate securely. Many volunteers pick up the amphibians, put them in buckets and carry them across the road. Anyway we must be very careful and drive slowly where we can see that the frogs in large numbers are crossing the road.