AMAZING AMPHIBIANS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Countryside Council for Wales
“Eye of newt and toe of frog” from Macbeth is well known,
but in a recent survey only 1 in 20 knew how many types of amphibians
there are in Wales. How well would you do?
Well, the answer is six – and if you want to know all about Wales’
amphibians all you have to do ask for your copy of CCW’s latest publication!
Crammed full of pictures you will find out all about Wales’ six amphibians
– common frog, common toad, natterjack toad, palmate newt, great
crested newt and smooth newt.
“Amphibians are very restricted in the areas where they can thrive
because they have to stay near a source of open water. This is where they
lay their eggs. But they also spend a lot of time on dry land foraging
for food and hibernating during the winter,” explains Liz Howe,
CCW’s Species expert.
Spotting tips – if you want to do more than read about them!
- Common frogs often breed in smaller ponds, garden pools being ideal.
Find the familiar spawn clumps in shallow, warmer areas.
- Common toads tend to prefer lakes, reservoirs and larger ponds, and
breed later than frogs. Their calls are louder - a high-pitched croaking
- and this tends to be a better clue to finding breeding sites than
finding their spawn, which is laid in long strings and is tricky to
spot. They frequently cover long distances, crossing roads which spells
doom for some.
- Natterjack toads are real specialists, found in shallow pools around
the British Isles on heath, saltmarsh and sand dune sites. They became
extinct in Wales over 40 years ago, but have been re-introduced to the
North Wales coast near Prestatyn. You may be lucky enough to hear their
strident, ratchet-like call (though you’ll have to wait until April).
- Newts are best detected in the water at the edge of ponds by torchlight
after dark. The rarest are the great crested newt has black warty skin,
with a high wavy crest along their backs. Their belly is usually orange
or yellow - a warning to would-be predators that they are poisonous
to eat.
Please remember that the natterjack toad and great crested newts are
strictly protected and a licence is needed to
disturb them.
Click
here for a complete list of books about amphibians
|
