Amphibians can thrive in a vast range of environments, but they generally tend to have specific requirements for reproduction. I have seen frog eggs where you may expect them, like in marshes, ponds, or fens, but I have also found them in a backyard pool! That doesn’t mean it is the best location for frogs to lay eggs.
Frogs generally lay their eggs in slow-moving freshwater such as in marshes, fish-free ponds, bogs, or fens. However, some frog species lay their eggs on leaves, in moist areas on land, or in brackish water. As a general rule, frog eggs require moisture to develop into healthy tadpoles.
Although frogs are incredibly diverse and adaptive on a broad scale, frogs routinely seek out certain habitat characteristics to ensure their eggs can develop properly. Join me as I discuss the most common places frogs lay their eggs,, as well as some unique yet useful approaches certain species may use instead.
Most Frogs Lay Eggs in Aquatic Areas
Aquatic areas are by far the most common places for frogs to lay eggs. Temporary or permanent bodies of water are the preferred locations of many aquatic, terrestrial, and arboreal frog species, especially in North America.
Frogs typically prefer the following places to lay eggs:
- PondsÂ
- MarshesÂ
- SwampsÂ
- BogsÂ
Here is an easy to observe table of where frogs do and do not lay eggs:
| Wetland | Do Frogs Lay Eggs |
| Ponds | Yes |
| Marshes | Yes |
| Swamps | Yes |
| Bogs | Yes |
| Fens | Yes |
| Calm Lakes | Yes |
| Puddles | Yes |
| Vernal Pools | Yes |
| Streams | No |
| Rivers | No |
| Sea | No |
| Ocean | No |
Where frogs lay eggs depends on the species. For example, some frog species prefer temporary water bodies to lay eggs, such as vernal pools and puddles that arise after a considerable amount of rainfall. Such water bodies typically disappear after some time, making them the last resort for frogs, but the eggs may still have enough time to develop before this happens.Â
Frogs generally choose relatively shallow, calm areas, with no current as the frog eggs could drift away otherwise. Frogs typically prefer areas with aquatic vegetation for this reason, as these surroundings shelter the eggs from predators, direct sunlight, and provide future tadpoles food.
Some Frogs Lay Eggs in Trees
Some tree frogs located in South America, like the Red Eyed Tree Frog or Glass Tree Frog, lay eggs on leaves in trees to protect them from predators. The eggs fall into the water below once they have developed into tadpoles.
Some tree frogs use a more creative approach to laying their eggs and place them in trees, generally under leaves, often situated along water body edges. With this tactic, the frog eggs are more protected from the surrounding predators, including aquatic and terrestrial predators.
The eggs generally drop down into the water body below once they develop into tadpoles. Once the fall into the water, they can swim and begin their lives in water, until they develop into froglets and can live on land.
Frogs Have Adapted to Laying Eggs in New Locations
Frogs generally lay their eggs in calm fresh-water ponds, streams, marshes, swamps, fens, or bogs during mating season. Certain tree frog species are known to lay their eggs in trees. Frogs generally avoid salt or brackish water since it dehydrates them.
Where frogs lay eggs, how often and how many eggs they lay depends on species and climate. For example, frogs located Canada generally only reproduce once per year because the climate does not allow them to be active during Winter. Whereas frogs tend to reproduce throughout the year in the rainforest that provides the perfect climate for them to thrive all year round.
However, frogs are incredibly adaptive and when things get tough, they may change their reproductive habits to ensure their survival. For example, some frogs have adapted to lay their eggs in saltwater due to lack of freshwater. This is something that would have been impossible without evolutionary adaptations since salt dehydrates frogs.
Some frog species may use the ground or inland areas for laying their eggs. This is very rare and is a new adaptation found in some frog species trying to ensure their survival. Such frogs like those of the Pristimantis genius place their eggs in moist terrestrial areas within their habitat and the eggs transform directly to froglets without the tadpole stage (CTNF).
Location has a massive impact on their chances of survival. Too much sun may dehydrate and kill the eggs. Too many predators may wipe out the new population. Lack of vegetation may lead to the tadpoles cannibalizing each other.
Here are the most important factors influencing where frogs lay eggs:
Moisture
Regardless of the area chosen, water is the primary concern for developing frog eggs. Frog eggs need to remain moist for their jelly-like coating to remain functional, as they will not survive if they become too dry. Moisture is a key factor concerning the frog eggsâ ability to develop into healthy tadpoles.
Moisture can be found in plenty of sources, and although most frogs choose water bodies for their eggs, sufficient moisture can often be found in the ground or humid air. The selection of moist areas often depends on the frog speciesâ location, as some regions are drier than others.
Safety
In the wild, there are plenty of dangers and threats waiting to ambush helpless frog eggs. Frogs generally prefer safer spaces to lay their eggs, as this immediately lessens the chances of the eggs succumbing to such dangers. For example, Spring Peeper actively seek out small ponds with no fish to lay their eggs.
The most prominent threat is the risk of being eaten by predators that share the habitat, as frog eggs are an incredibly alluring meal for many animals. Predators can be found in the sky, on land, and in the water with the frogs, and include aquatic animals such as fish, larger mammals, reptiles, or even other amphibian species.
In addition to the risks posed by potential predators, frog eggs need to be sheltered from natural turbulence as well. As a result, the eggs need to be placed in areas that will prevent them from injury due to harsh weather causing strong currents for example.
Some Frogs Do Not Lay Eggs
While most frog species lay eggs and allow them to transform into tadpoles over time, there are a few exceptions. Some frogs use internal fertilization instead of the external fertilization process used by most frogs during amplexus.
Such frogs do not need areas to lay their eggs but need spaces that will support their developing young after the egg phase. Some frog species carry their eggs on their backs for quite some time after being fertilized. The eggs develop into tadpoles and only leave the parentâs body once they have developed into froglets.
Females within the Fanged Frog species give birth to live tadpoles. Male members of the Darwin Frog species swallow the eggs and keep them in the body near the vocal sac. They regurgitate their young after they have developed into froglets.
Frogs generally seek moist, warm, and safe areas to lay their eggs in aquatic, arboreal, or terrestrial spaces. But, there are still some exceptions. Frog species that do not lay eggs generally use different methods to increase their chances of survival (CTNF).
More About Frog Eggs
We have so much fascinating information bout frog eggs on our blog! Learn more below:
