Wild Wednesday - Natterjack toad
The Natterjack toad, scientific name, Epidalea calamita, is a rare and protected amphibian in the UK, specifically found in coastal and heathland areas.
It is smaller than a common toad, about six to eight centimetres, living for 10 to 12 years in the wild.
They begin to emerge from hibernation when night time temperatures consistently stay above 7°C and are mainly active at night.
During the breeding season males call from the edges of pools at night to attract a mate. They have a loud, rasping call, one of the loudest among British amphibians. The breeding season is from April to July and the 'toad spawn' is laid in long strings, often in very shallow water with ideally pools free of predators and fish.
Their diet consists of insects and other small invertebrates (animal without a backbone).
Unlike most toads, the Natterjack runs instead of hopping.
These toads are endangered primarily due to habitat loss, which restricts their ability to breed, forage, and burrow. Changes in habitat management, like increased vegetation in sand dunes, and altered water flow in breeding ponds also contribute to their decline.
They are rare and protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Conservation efforts include:
· habitat management - creation and maintenance of suitable breeding ponds
· monitoring - ongoing surveys and acoustic monitoring
· reintroduction programs - including in places like the Sefton Coast and Scottish nature reserves.
Read more on their comeback to the South Downs National Park here: Toadally awesome! Natterjacks bounce back in South Downs National Park - South Downs National Park Authority