Common Newt

Triturus vulgaris

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Length 7–11cm. Breeding male develops a wavy crest along the neck, back and tail, and has a bright orange belly with black spots. Smaller female is less clearly marked, lacks a crest and has a paler belly.

HABITAT

Damp places in many habitats. Found across Europe except far north and far south.

FOOD AND HABITS

Eats insects, caterpillars, crustaceans, molluscs, worms, tadpoles and slugs. Adults enter the water February–March, leaving it June–July to hibernate in October. Pairs perform complex displays in the water. Lifespan up to 20 years.

Crested Newt

Triturus cristatus

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Length 11–16cm. Large, colourful and warty. Upper part dark brown or slaty-black. Underside bright orange-yellow spotted with black. Breeding males develop a ragged crest along the back and another on the tail.

HABITAT

Breeds in lowland water bodies such as clay pits, reservoirs, ditches and ponds, preferring pools 30–100cm deep. Occurs throughout Europe except Ireland, Iberia and northern Scandinavia.

FOOD AND HABITS

Hunts invertebrates and frog tadpoles at night. Enters the water mid-March, and remains until July–August. Hibernation begins October. Eggs are laid on leaves. Larvae metamorphose in four months, and adults are sexually mature at three years. Lifespan up to 27 years.

Common Toad

Bufo bufo

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Length 8–15cm. Skin warty and usually orange-brown or olive. Female is larger than male. Walks and hops.

HABITAT

Lives in a range of habitats, but usually found in damp places. Absent from Ireland, northern Scandinavia and the Mediterranean islands.

FOOD AND HABITS

Insects, larvae, spiders, worms and slugs are grabbed by the long and sticky, prehensile tongue. Emerges from hibernation to enter water February–March. Hibernates again in October. Male clings to female’s back and fertilizes the ribbons of 600–4,000 eggs as she releases them. Toadlets leave pond late July–August. Lifespan up to 40 years.

Edible Frog

Rana esculenta

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Length to 11cm. Colour ranges from mainly green to mainly brown. Generally a number of dark spots on the back and flanks, with long back legs often having dark bands. Usually a straw-yellow or lime-green line running along the centre of the back. Underside mottled pale white to yellow and black.

HABITAT

Highly aquatic and occurs in a variety of waterways. Widespread across much of mainland Europe. Naturalized in Britain.

FOOD AND HABITS

Very active during the day; enjoys basking even in the hottest sun. Tadpoles can grow very large (up to 4cm), because they overwinter, metamorphosing into frogs the following spring.

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Length 6–8cm. Smoother skin and longer hindlegs than Common Toad. Hindlegs are short compared with those of other frogs. Colour and pattern vary. Snout is rounded and the large black eyes are surrounded by gold flecked with brown. Moves with a springing leap.

HABITAT

Widespread in moist shady habitats, from northern Spain to the North Cape. Absent from Iceland, Orkney and Shetland.

FOOD AND HABITS

Snails, slugs, worms, woodlice, beetles and flies are flicked into the wide mouth by its long tongue. Hibernates in pond mud or rotting vegetation on land. Lays up to 1,400 eggs. Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets in 12 weeks, and they stay near water until hibernating October–November. Sexually mature in three years. Lifespan up to eight years.

Diet includes animals that may be harmful to garden plants, such as slugs and snails