Common Name: Pyrenean Frog, Pyrenean Stream Frog, Pyrenees Frog
Scientific Name: Rana pyrenaica
Family: Ranidae – True Frog family
Location: France and Spain
Female Size: 2.0 inches (51 mm)
Male Size: 1.8 inches (46 mm)
The Pyrenean Frog lives along rocky mountain streams in the Pyrenees Mountains along the French / Spanish border. They are a small and brown to olive green colored. They can easily be confused with other members of their genus.
The breeding season starts once the snow melts, generally from February to April. The male frogs call out from the shallows of the stream to attract a mate. Once a female frog arrives, the male frog grasps her from behind in amplexus. Then, the female frog lays her eggs and the male frog fertilizes them. The female lays up to 150 eggs. After mating, the pair split up and provide no care for their offspring. Tadpoles take 3 to 4 or even more months to complete their metamorphosis.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Pyrenean Frog as Endangered with Extinction. The frog has a small, restricted range that’s habitat is decreasing in quality due to logging and farming. Additionally, non-native fish such as trout have been introduced into the streams. Luckily, the frog lives in a few protected areas such as the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Huesca) and Lizardoia Integral Reserve (Navarra). However, more work is needed to save the species.