Pelophylax cretensis (Beerli, Hotz, Tunner, Heppich & Uzzell, 1994)

Common Name and Size

Pelophylax cretensis, commonly known as the Cretan frog, is a medium-sized frog that reaches a maximum length of 8 cm and a weight of 40 g.

Dorsal and Ventral Coloration

Most individuals have a light grey to brown base color, with brown or olive-grey mottled spots across the back; the throat and underside of the body are whitish-grey. Rarely, the upperparts may be grass-green with clearly defined brown spots.

Limb and Side Coloration

The inner surfaces of the hind legs are yellow, and yellowish color may also appear on the sides of the body.

Skin Features

This species has a prominent dark brown fold of skin running along its back, with smooth, slightly glossy skin.

Male Vocal Sacs

Males can have prominent vocal sacs on their throats, particularly during the breeding season.

Locomotion Adaptations

Like other frogs, it has long, muscular hind legs that support its agile swimming and jumping abilities.

Geographic Distribution

This species is endemic to the Greek island of Crete, where it has a patchy distribution across a broad area.

Altitudinal Range

It occurs at altitudes up to 920 meters above sea level; there is one unconfirmed record of the species at 1,330 meters. Its entire distribution falls within the Crete Mediterranean forests ecoregion.

Habitat Types

Its natural habitats include Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and plantations.

Mating Period

Mating takes place in spring.

Egg Laying

Females lay their eggs in water in clusters of a few hundred eggs, and a single female can lay up to 5,000 eggs total.

Egg Hatching

Eggs hatch after approximately one week, with hatching time varying based on water temperature.

Breeding Season Male Behavior

During the breeding season, males develop prominent throat vocal sacs, and aggressively defend their territories using a combination of strategic calling and physical confrontation.