rana

Rana is a genus of frogs in the family Ranidae, commonly referred to as true frogs. Historically, Rana included a wide range of species across Europe, Asia, and North America, making it one of the best-known frog groups. The genus has played a central role in amphibian research due to its ecological diversity and widespread distribution.

In the 21st century, molecular studies prompted taxonomic revisions that moved many species to other genera. As a result, some authorities now recognize Rana as containing only a subset of the former species, with North American taxa frequently placed in Lithobates and European and Asian water frogs moved to Pelophylax. For example, the American bullfrog is commonly treated as Lithobates catesbeianus, while Rana temporaria (the common frog) remains in Rana in some classifications. Other sources retain a broader Rana circumscription. The exact composition depends on the taxonomic system used.

Rana species are typically associated with freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, streams, and wetlands. They are generally aquatic during breeding; females lay eggs in gelatinous masses or strings that hatch into tadpoles, which later metamorphose into juvenile frogs. Adults are typically insectivorous, catching a variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates.

Conservation status varies widely. Some Rana species are common and widespread, while others are endangered or extirpated due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and disease, including chytrid fungus. The genus has both ecological importance as predators and prey and cultural prominence in many regions.

Name and taxonomy: The generic name derives from Latin rana, meaning frog, reflecting its historic use as a catch-all for “true frogs” in many classification schemes.