Classification
Order: anura
Family: pelodytidae
Genus: pelodytes
Species: pelodytes caucasicus
Habitat
The Caucasian parsley frog is native to the western Caucasus: Krasnodar region, south-west of Stavropol region of Russia, Georgia and north-west of Azerbaijan. It can also be found in Turkey, to the west of Yesilirmak river. They mainly live in wet woodland.
Outward appearance
An adult Caucasian parsley frog grows to about 5.5 cm long.
The back is light brown or dark brown, possibly with a shade of green. On the frog’s body there is an askew light cross. On the upper body parts the frogs have numerous tubercles that often form ridges. The tops of the ridges can look like red dots. During the breeding season, males have nuptial pads in the form of black tubercles on the chest, upper arms, forearms, first and second fingers.
Character
Caucasian parsley frogs are active at dusk and at night. They spend days in their shelters under stones, tree roots, fallen leaves etc. You can see them outside in rainy and cloudy weather.
Maintenance care
Caucasian parsley frogs need an aquatic tank with water and some ground. On the ground you can put heating stones or heating cord. The substrate is usually put near a side wall. You can place a filter under the substrate.
Feeding
Caucasian parsley frogs mainly eat insects and other invertebrates, e.g. mollusc and caddis worm. Tadpoles mainly eat protozoa, as well as dead newts, other tadpoles, fish eggs. Frogs can catch their prey from the water surface. The frogs’ natural predators are snakes and fish.
Breeding
Caucasian parsley frogs become sexually mature at the age of 2 years. They breed from May to September in still water or in slow flowing streams. A female lays up to 750 eggs in open well-heated areas.
Tadpoles reach the length ot 5 cm. The metamorphosis occus after 75-80 days. They eat algae and detritus.
