"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
...

Just had to share this with members of the NG - our pond was only
finished at the end of September, and while clearing leaves today I
was delighted to discover (and replace) a huge frog! Don't know
what
breed, but it was unusually browny-red on top - perfectly
camouflaged
by the oak leaves. ( Will try to google for it.)

Made my day.

Sally,
The common frog, Rana temporaria, comes in various mottled colours
from yellow ochre, brown, through green to grey, occasionally dark
grey - and red. The red version is not common but has been known and
recorded since at least 1908.
'Don't know if anyone has done any research into the colour variations
but it may well be habitat influenced.
What causes a lot of confusion these days, is that there is an
introduced problem called, explicitly enough, 'red leg disease'.
A 'huge' common frog will almost certainly be a mature female.
........ Perhaps you would care to confirm that with a microscopic
examination of its genitalia? ;-)

--
ned