rana esculenta edible frog common European water green food frogs' legs Lithobates clamitans North American France
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19th era / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
BACCC6File size:
53.3 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
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4877 x 3822 px | 41.3 x 32.4 cm | 16.3 x 12.7 inches | 300dpiMore information:
The Edible Frog is a name for a common European frog, also known as the common water frog or green frog (however, this latter term is also used for the North American species Lithobates clamitans). It is used for food, particularly in France for the delicacy frogs' legs. Females are between 5 to 9 cm long, males between 6 to 11 cm. Pelophylax esculentus is the fertile hybrid of the Pool Frog and the Marsh Frog, hence the addition of the "kl." (for klepton or synklepton) in the species name. During the ice ages the population of the common ancestor of both species was split into two. These populations diverged, but remained genetically close enough to be able to create fertile hybrids. However, when edible frogs mate with each other, their offspring are often misformed, so there are no pure populations of edible frogs. The hybrid populations are propagated by female edible frogs mating with males of one of the parental species.