Wildlife of Britain & Beyond

Rana temporaria

One of the most familiar amphibians in the UK, the common frog is often the first sign of spring when it migrates to ponds to spawn in February. Spawn can survive light frosts and tadpoles take 3 months to metamorphose.

Bufo bufo

Larger and wartier than the common frog, the toad is now on the Amber conservation list following significant declines. It makes remarkable road migrations to breeding ponds in spring, and many are killed by traffic.

Triturus cristatus

Britain's largest newt and one of Europe's most protected animals. The male develops a dramatic jagged crest in the breeding season. It requires networks of clean ponds and rough grassland, and has declined dramatically with pond loss.

Epidalea calamita

Britain's rarest amphibian, distinguished by the yellow stripe down its back and its extraordinarily loud chorus. Restricted to sandy heathlands and coastal dune systems, it is fully protected and subject to targeted conservation.

Lissotriton helveticus

Britain's smallest newt, distinguished by the male's hind-foot webbing and filament tail-tip in the breeding season. It favours acidic, shallow ponds on heathlands and moorland, and is the most common newt in Scotland and Wales.

Pelophylax lessonae

Britain's rarest native amphibian, extinct in the wild by 1995. Successfully reintroduced to Norfolk from Swedish populations of the same northern lineage. A lively, vocal frog of shallow warm ponds, it calls loudly on warm summer days.

Lissotriton vulgaris

Britain's most widespread newt, found in ponds across the UK including gardens. In the breeding season the male develops a continuous wavy crest and spotted orange belly. It is the only newt species in Ireland.