Amphibians are animals that start life as eggs (or spawn) in the water. They develop into tadpoles (or larvae) that look like fish with long tails, and then grow four legs to turn into tiny froglets, toadlets or newtlets before leaving the water. Frogs and toads lose their tails, while newts keep them. They then live mainly on land, preferring generally damp and secluded places and returning to water to breed and hunt.
UK Amphibians
Common and garden species – The animals you are most likely to spot in your garden or local park
Rarer species – The harder to find animals you can spot on nature reserves and some special sites around the UK
Non Native species – You might spot some of these exotic animals across the UK where they have been introduced or accidentally released into the wild:
- African Clawed Frog/Toad
- American Bullfrog
- Fire-Bellied Toads
- Green Frogs
- Midwife Toad
- Alpine Newt
- Italian Crested Newt
You can find information on all of these animals on our website, and in our free Dragon Finder app. You can also use the app to record your sightings of amphibians around the UK. This information helps us to map where the animals can be found and guides conservation action to help protect our wildlife. Find out more about the app here.