Finalist - Travel Photographer of the Year. December 2019.

Endangered Planet Portfolio Category

Freshwater Habitats

This tiny Common froglet is less than 1cm in length. In just a few days time, its tail will morph away and it will leap into the world to seek its fortune. It is so weightless it can balance on single, silken strands of Spirogyra. Partial to a diet that includes plants like Duckweed, insect eggs, wormy invertebrates and snails, it will also nibble on algae until it becomes a complete adult.

Once it leaves the sanctuary of its pond, it will navigate the freshwater superhighway; lakes, ponds, canals and slow-flowing streams are all favourite habitats. Along the way, the froglet must overcome many obstacles to reach these diminishing watery checkpoints. From frogspawn to adulthood, it has an estimated 0.25% chance of survival.

Location: Urban wildlife pond, Surrey, England

Photographer: Laura Storm