The
rare natterjack toad is found at just a few coastal locations, where it
prefers shallow pools on sand dunes, heaths and marshes.
About
Smaller
than the common toad, the natterjack toad is very rare. This amphibian
breeds in warm, shallow pools on sand dunes and sandy heaths in just a
handful of special places in England and Scotland; sadly, just one or
two colonies now remain in south east England and east anglia.
Natterjack toads are mainly nocturnal; in the spring, the males all sing
together at night to attract females and their calls can be heard up to
a mile away!How to identify
The
natterjack toad is more olive-green in colour than the common toad, and
has a distinguishing yellow stripe running down its back. It tends to
run instead of walking or hopping, giving it the name the 'Running
toad'. It lays its spawn in long strings, with just one row of eggs per
string.Distribution
A
rare toad, only found at a handful of sites in southeast England,
northwest England, East Anglia, North Wales and parts of Scotland.Did you know?
Natterjack toads lay their
spawn in 1-2m strings in temporary, shallow ponds, warmed by the sun.
One clutch can contain up to 7,500 eggs! It takes just six to eight
weeks for young natterjack toadlets to develop from the spawn.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon