This is a restricted concept of this species following the split of the broader concept into this and Rana parvipalmata (Dufresnes et al. 2020).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

The European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) is assessed as Least Concern for both Europe and for the EU 27 member states in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats and presumed large population.

This species is widespread throughout most of Europe, ranging from northern Spain to the Urals (absent from southern and central Iberia, much of southern Italy [scattered Apennine subpopulations]), eastwards to European Russia and through northern Greece and Bulgaria. It has a patchy distribution in the mountainous parts of the Balkans. It has been recorded from sea level to elevations approaching 2,700 m asl (Pyrenees).

The range extends eastwards of the European region to the western part of West Siberia and northern Kazakhstan.

Following genetic analysis, subpopulations from northwestern Spain have been assigned to Rana parvipalmata which was elevated from the subspecies of this species (Dufresnes et al. 2020).

The Common Frog is generally very common, although localised declines have recently been noted in a number of western European countries (e.g.. Germany, Switzerland, Spain). It is considered to be stable in Italy (F. Ficetola and R. Maneneti pers. comm. September 2020).

Many terrestrial (associated with woodland) and aquatic habitat types are used. It is present in coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, forested tundra and steppe, bush and shrublands, glades, grasslands, dry and wet meadows, marshes, fields, rural gardens, parks, and urban areas. Aquatic habitats include both temporary and permanent ponds, lakes and rivers; spawning and larval development occurs in these waterbodies. It does well in many modified habitats such as rural gardens.

There are no major threats to this species. The main localised threat is the general pollution and drainage of breeding sites and wetlands. Over-collection for medical research, food and commercial purposes is a threat in parts of its range. Deforestation might have led to a gradual "northward retreat" of the species over southern parts of its distribution. In the Balkan Peninsula it is one of the amphibian species jeopardised by uncontrolled establishment of run-of-river small hydropower plants (Crnobrnja-Isailović et al. 2021). In Germany the species has been suffering from the spring drought for several years due to its choice of very shallow spawning grounds (U. Schulte pers. comm. October 2022). Rana temporaria is probably declining in Slovakia, as it is disappearing from lower elevation, being replaced by R. dalmatina (D. Jablonski pers. comm. October 2022). Overcollection for medical research has been a threat in the past, however the extent to which it is a current threat is unknown. The introduction of fish to freshwater systems is a threat for this species (Schmidt et al. 2021). For example, introduced fish Perccottus glenii strongly prey tadpoles of this species causing strong decline in the number of local populations in Russia (Reshetnikov 2001).

Over-collection for medical research, food and commercial purposes is a threat to this species.

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is present in many protected areas. It is listed on Appendix III of the Berne Convention and on Annex V of the EU Natural Habitats Directive. It has been recorded in a number of national and sub-national Red Data books and lists and is protected by national legislation in a number of countries. It is considered Vulnerable in Czech Republic (Chobot and Nemec 2017), Slovenia (Anonymous 2010), Romania (Botnariuc and Tatole 2005) and Greece (Legakis and Maragou 2009), Near Threatened in Austria (Gollmann 2007), Hungary (Halpern et al. 2019), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Đug 2013) and Serbia (Kalezić et al. 2015). In parts of its range, mitigation measures to reduce road kill have been established (see in: Schmidt et al. 2020). There were six EC-funded LIFE-projects targeting the species or its habitats: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/search/get basicSearchText=rana+temporaria

Evidence shows that successful conservation action is possible for this species (Moor et al. 2022).

Conservation Needed
Water management should target the restoration of water bodies, serving as breeding habitat for the species throughout its range, but especially within EU Natura 2000 network.

Research Needed
Monitoring of populations for the presence and effects of Bd infection or other emerging pathogens need to be organised throughout its range.