The embarrassing story of a frog...

2009 - went to Canada on holiday. Stayed first in Montreal and then Mont Tremblant.

Hotel in Tremblant had its own little lake. Cue frog. This was a big frog. Just bear that in mind.

Now what does this frog have that's a little unusual? A very long tail. I was convinced I'd discovered a mutant frog at the least or a new species at best. When I got home I emailed lots of Canadian universities with my discovery. Anura Jenniferiana I thought it might be known as. I'd be hailed as the Linnaeus/Attenborough of my generation! I did get Biology 'O' level, after all. That makes me a naturalist, right? Also a naturist (but that's another story).

Er, no. It was not to be. I received very kind responses which did not treat me like a moron (for which I am grateful to the native politeness of the Canadian) that informed me it's a froglet. The tail was soon to disappear. I think it absorbs into the body rather than just falls off. Freaky.

I tell you something for nothing. You don't get baby frogs that size in the UK!

Any road up - in my researches I found out a lot about frogs. All of which I have subsequently forgotten. But one thing I do know. There are some really cute ones out there.

Unnamed Canadian lake. They have so many they don't even bother to name them all! So cool.

Jenni