Amphibians

Frogs and newts will breed in just about any pond, no matter how small. Toads favour larger, deeper ponds, but all three have benefited from the fashion for garden ponds.

Frogs have smooth, slippery skin and tremendous leaping ability, while toads have relatively rough, dry skin and tend to walk rather than leap. The Palmate Newt’s male can be identified by the thread at the end of his tail, while the male smooth newt sports an impressive wavy crest along his back.

Frog spawn is laid in clumps, and toad spawn in strings, while newt eggs are laid singly and each wrapped in a folded leaf for protection. Toad tadpoles tend to be small and blackish, and frog tadpoles larger and speckled brown. Newt tadpoles are somewhat like miniature newts. Both adult amphibians and their tadpoles can breathe through their skin. The tadpoles start off with gills but later switch over to breathing through lungs like their parents.

Frog and toad tadpoles feed mainly on algae at first and then gradually become carnivores, eating tiny animals or dead bodies. Newt tadpoles take microscopic animals at first, then progress to bigger and bigger prey. Adult frogs and toads do not feed in water, but on land take beetles, flies, slugs and worms. In water, newts prey on many small insect larvae, worms, crustaceans etc., while on land they eat worms and slugs mainly.

Newt life cycle - Frog life cycle

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