Editing Common frog (section)

== Diet ==

=== Juvenile ===
During metamorphosis, when the tadpole's front legs have developed, the frog stops eating for a short time. Recently metamorphosed juveniles feed mainly on small insects such as [[Springtail|Collembola]] (hexapods), [[Mite|Acarina]] (mites and ticks), and small fly larvae. ''Rana temporaria'' tadpoles. However, they mostly feed on algae and decomposed plants,<ref name="Stojanova-2008">{{cite journal |last1=Stojanova |first1=A. |last2=Mollov |first2=I. |date=2008 |title=DIET AND TROPHIC NICHE OVERLAP OF THE MOOR FROG (Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842) AND THE COMMON FROG (Rana temporaria L., 1758) FROM POLAND |s2cid=83200707 |language=en |ref=food3}}</ref> but when their hind legs develop, they become carnivorous.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tadpole to frog: development stages & metamorphosis – Saga |url=https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/gardening/wildlife/amphibians/the-tadpole |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=saga.co.uk}}</ref>

=== Adults ===
The common frog takes its place as an unspecialized and opportunistic feeder wherever it is found. In other words, common frogs will consume whatever prey that is most available and easy to catch.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Houston |first1=W. W. K. |date=October 1973 |title=The food of the Common frog, Rana temporaria, on high moorland in northern England |journal=Journal of Zoology |language=en |volume=171 |issue=2 |pages=153–165 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1973.tb02212.x |issn=0952-8369 |ref=Food1}}</ref> This usually means that the common frog feeds by remaining inactive and waiting for a suitable prey to enter the frog's area of capture. This also means that the common frog's diet changes according to the season when its prey is most abundant. In the summer, the common frog's diet mostly consists of adult [[Crane fly|crane flies]] and the larvae of butterflies and moths. To a slightly lesser extent, common frogs will feed on [[Woodlouse|woodlice]], arachnids, beetles, slugs, snails, and earthworms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Trakimas |first1=Giedrius |last2=Jardine |first2=Timothy D. |last3=Barisevičiūtė |first3=Rūta |last4=Garbaras |first4=Andrius |last5=Skipitytė |first5=Raminta |last6=Remeikis |first6=Vidmantas |date=6 July 2011 |title=Ontogenetic dietary shifts in European common frog (Rana temporaria) revealed by stable isotopes |journal=Hydrobiologia |volume=675 |issue=1 |pages=87 |doi=10.1007/s10750-011-0804-3 |bibcode=2011HyBio.675...87T |s2cid=39126267 |ref=Food2}}</ref><ref name="Stojanova-2008" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rana_temporaria/ | title=Rana temporaria | website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/5168 | title=AmphibiaWeb – Rana temporaria }}</ref> In addition, common frogs will typically feed on bigger prey as they become larger. Therefore, newly developed common frogs are limited to smaller insect prey, whereas larger frogs are able to consume a wide range of insects. Common frogs will hide in damp places, such as in the water, during the day, and at night, they will begin searching for food.