Ryan:
The widespread distribution of this frog means that this sighting was perhaps not so special. But this particular individual did allow me to crawl right up to him to take a photo before hoping away. In fact on this particular day we saw many frogs swimming in the pools at the base of the sand stone cliffs that barricaded us in as we hiked.
Apparently the prevalence of this frog has to do with many adaptations. It can live in a variety of aquatic environments and up to an altitude of 4000m and the species is largely tolerant of light frost, though it does hibernate during the winter. Its preferred place of hibernation is in mud, though some frogs will hibernate under wet stones, compost heaps or fallen trees. Once special feature that enables it to do this is that it can breathe through its skin.
Like most frogs their diet consists largely of invertebrates, especially worms and mollusks. Yet old frogs feed exclusively on land, while young frogs also feed in the water. Tadpoles of course only feed in the water, yet are strictly herbivores and switch to insects when they mature.
The frog varies in colouring from brown to olive green and even yellow. They also have a dark mask enclosing their eyes. However some bright red and blue individual have been found in Scotland according to some websites.