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palmate newt

Croaking Science: 2023 so far- what have we learned from the Dragon Finder App?

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As we fast approach the spring and our amphibians and reptiles begin to stir after their winter period of relative dormancy (known as brumation) we can expect sightings to increase in frequency. Whilst the occasional pioneering common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) or adder (Vipera berus) will emerge from their hibernacula to bask in winter sun, it’s the UK’s amphibians that bring the most herptile activity to this time of the year. This is reflected in the sightings that have been reported to Froglife’s Dragon Finder App so far in 2023.

At the time of writing (mid-February 2023), we’ve verified 42 reports submitted to the App; 24 sightings of common frogs (Rana temporaria), 6 encounters with common toads (Bufo bufo), 8 palmate newt sightings (Lissotriton helveticus), 2 smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) sightings and 1 sighting of a great-crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and an alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) respectively.

All this amphibian action heralds the commencement of their breeding season. Common frogs lead the charge; the earliest report of frogspawn this year came to us from the Isles of Scilly, 45km south-west of mainland Cornwall, reported to us on the 9th January yet seen on Christmas Eve! UK common frogs spawn earliest here due to the archipelago’s unique climate – the moderating oceanic influence on which means that winters are warmer there than anywhere else in the UK and consequently snow and frost (potentially detrimental to spawn) are rare. We’ve received a total of 11 frogspawn reports so far in 2023, with the majority of these coming from Devon & Cornwall, reflecting the relatively warm winters experienced by the southwest more broadly. We’re now looking forward to witnessing reports of frogspawn slowly popping up in increasingly northerly and easterly locations as we pass through February and into March and April.

We’ve received 6 reports of common toads, but only one of common toad spawn, reported from Devon. Interestingly, the Dragon Finder App user that made this sighting was also able to spot a number of instances of a frog and toad engaged with one-another in ‘amplexus’, the act of the male using rough nuptial or ‘thumb’ pads to clasp onto the female whilst she deposits spawn. Common toads often begin to migrate to their ancestral breeding ponds from February, waiting for a comparatively warm and wet evening to do so.

Therefore, be sure to keep a keen eye out for reptiles and amphibians as the winter draws to a close and make sure to report your sightings through our free Dragon Finder App – the data we receive provides a wonderful insight into what our species are up to, as well as when and where this activity is occurring. Happy spotting!

What our animals are doing this month…

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As we approach the end of summer our newt larvae will absorb their gills and depending on their development, will start to leave the water as ‘newtlets’ or efts in August. Great crested newt larvae are the biggest of our newt species, reaching lengths of 50-90cm before metamorphosis.

Great Crested newt larvae, palmate newt larvae and smooth newt larvae develop better in warmer waters as metamorphosis can happen faster. Indeed, cooler conditions and shaded ponds mean that larvae develop slower. In terms of what larvae eat when they are developing, they eat amphibian larvae and a variety of aquatic invertebrates, yum!

However, some newts will decide to overwinter as larvae and develop in the following year. Adult newts can still be seen in and around ponds searching for, and hunting for food in August.

From September onwards, our newts will be seeking shelter and somewhere to overwinter during the autumn and winter months.

 

If you have spotted any newt larvae or newtlets, make sure to record them on our Dragon Finder App!

What our animals are doing this month…

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By mid-late February, the first palmate newts will start emerging from their overwintering sites and making their way to breeding ponds, where the breeding season will continue throughout spring until the end of May.

Males typically arrive at ponds first where they perform a courtship display to attract females, involving some vigorous tail shaking. Males then drop a spermatophore which the female picks up via her cloaca, using it to fertilise her eggs. She lays her eggs one at a time, carefully rolling each one in an individual leaf. Although this seems like a slow process, a female palmate newt usually lays between 100-300 eggs per season.

If you’re looking for palmate newts they can be tricky to identify as they are easily confused with smooth newts, but the key difference is that smooth newts have spotty throats whereas palmate newts do not. Males in the breeding season are easier to tell apart as male smooth newts develop a crest along the back, and male palmate newts develop large webbed hind feet and a small filament at the tip of the tail.

What our animals are doing this month… October 2020

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October is truly a season of change for our native flora and fauna. As the temperature drops, vegetation starts to die back and our days get shorter, our native amphibians and reptiles start to get ready to face the challenge of winter. 

Why is winter so challenging for our native Dragons?! Amphibians and reptiles are both ectotherms, meaning that they rely on external sources of body heat compared to endotherms, such as mammals, which are capable and dependent on internal generation of heat. This means that amphibians and reptiles have to find a way to navigate through the drop in external temperature, frozen watery homes, reduction in water oxygen levels and, often unforgiving, winter weather.

Each species has clever adaptions and behavioural changes that they go through each year between September and November for them to survive this wintery challenge.

It is a common misconsception that all amphibians and reptiles hibernate over winter, even though they will all be seeking hibernacula at a similar time, the type they need can differ from species to species as well as if they hibernate or overwinter.  For example, the common lizard will be spending October feeding on invertebrates in preparation for winter before hibernating, often in groups, amongst rocks or dead wood.

Common Lizard

Whereas, our newt species overwinter and go dormant under rocks or buried in mud, but take advantage of milder weather to forage.

Palmate Newt

For more info on what individual species do over winter have a look at our fatastic amphibian and reptile fact files! Click here!

By early October most of our reptile species will have entered their winter hibernation. The majority of the UKs reptile species will have favoured hibernating sites, such as the Adder who will return to their wintering sites that they use each year. With Adders often basking in the last of the autumnal sunshine until the end of October when they become dormant for the colder months.

Adder

Some species, particularly slow-worms, common lizards and grass snakes, will make use of piles of dead logs, leaves or compost for the winter. It is important that reptiles are not disturbed during their hibernation period since it takes them longer to recover if they have to become active.

An amazing way to help our fantastic amphibians and reptiles is to consider them when planning your wildlife garden. One of my favourite things to do is create a hibernaculum, an amazing space for all amphibians and reptiles to hunt, forage and of course over winter. They are so simple to do and can make such a difference! If you are short on space you could also make a ‘toad home’!

Would you like to create more overwintering ad hibernating homes for wildlife? Create new habitats for emerging amphibians and reptiles in Spring?

Download our FREE Wildlife Pond Visualizer App, learn what you can do for nature and try out the fantastic Augmented Reality Feature!

For more information click here. Download here

We would love to see pictures of all your hard work! Send in your before and after photos or gardening selifes to info@froglife.org