Frogs and Toads
Natterjack Toad
Have you ever wondered what the loudest amphibian in the UK sounds like? The species behind the sound is the natterjack toad, a heathland specialist slightly smaller than the common toad, with a distinctive, rasping call that can carry up to a mile. While quite tricky to spot, natterjacks have a bright yellow line down the centre of their backs which helps to identify them.
75% of natterjack toad breeding sites in the UK have disappeared in the past century and they are one of the species most at risk from climate change, due to their preferred habitat being in coastal areas where rising sea levels have destroyed much of their habitat. However, successful conservation efforts and reintroduction projects within the South Downs National Park have led to an increase in numbers across heathland sites in Hampshire.
Common Frog
The common frog comes in lots of different colours ranging from green through to red and yellow, but the easiest way to identify one is to look for their long, stripy back legs and smooth skin.
Male frogs have a clever adaptation that helps them during breeding season. They climb on to the back of females and fertilise their eggs on the move, and to help them hang on, they use ‘nuptial pads’ on their front feet that give them extra grip. The female will then lay big jelly-like clumps of frog spawn in ponds – one female can lay as many as 4,000 eggs in one season!
Top tip – adding a pond to your garden is a great way to help frogs and toads. It doesn’t need to be big – even a bucket or plant pot sunk into the ground is great for lots of wildlife. Check out this resource from Frog Life for useful advice.
Common Toad
Similar to the common frog but with more warty lumps and bumps. The females common toad lays spawn in ponds in a similar way to frogs, but instead of clumps, she lays long strings of eggs.
Toads spend spring in ponds while they are breeding, but for the rest of year they can be found in a mix of habitats, including woodland, gardens and hedgerows. Like most amphibians, toads hibernate during winter, usually hiding under piles of logs or stones.
Did you know? Toads don’t hop like frogs; instead, they walk!