October 2023

12 Buckden Roundabout October 2023 Wildlife News Butterflies and Moths The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust invites you to come along to listen to Martin Davies, who will provide an illustrated talk on Butterflies and Moths. This will be held on Wednesday 11 th October at 7.30pm at Brampton Memorial Hall. Martin is an all - round naturalist, but his main focus is now on butterflies. He worked for the RSPB for more than 40 years and founded his own consultancy company working within the conservation movement in 2012. This talk will be a follow up to his guided walk which was held at Therfield Heath in August and will concentrate on the butterflies and moths of this re- gion. Everyone is most welcome to attend. Booking is not neces- sary. The charge is £3.50 and payment is by cash or card. We meet at Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton, PE28 4TB. For more information please contact George (01480 450809 or georgecottam@virginmedia.com) Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered Charity No: 1000412 Frogs and Toads by Gregory Belcher Frogs and toads belong to the order Anura consisting of some 7300 species worldwide. These fascinating creatures are found in virtually every habitat on earth, from deserts to mountains, from the arctic circle to tropical rain forest. It is in this last habitat that they are the most prolific. An area in the Amazon basin in Ecuador houses 83 species of frog and toad, roughly the same number of species that are found in the whole of the USA. Frogs and toads were neighbours of the dinosaurs and are found in the fossil record stretching back 200 million years. This lineage has led to a great diversity with the group. Cur- rently the smallest adult frog recorded is the species Paed- lophryne amauensis measuring 7.7mm long and is thought to be the smallest vertebrate on Earth. Compare this to the larg- est known species, the Goliath Frog from Africa, where individ- uals can measure 320mm long and weigh over 3 kg. Most people are aware of the lifecycle of the frog and toad, the laying of eggs which hatch into tadpoles, which in turn metamorphosise into miniature replicas of the adult animal. Many species lay hundreds of eggs, but the record is held by the North American Bullfrog where an individual can produce up to 10,000 eggs. They also hold the record for the longest transformation, taking 3 years from egg to froglet. Compare this to their compatriots, the North American Spadefoot Toad which will complete the change in an incredible 2 weeks. Most lay their eggs, surrounded by a jelly - like case, in water and leave the young to it. However, some species take more care of the eggs. In some African Tree Frogs the female pro- duces a mucus which she ‘ beats ’ with her hind legs to make foam. This she attaches to a branch and lays her eggs into it, providing a secure place for the young to develop. The Mid- wife Toad lays eggs in the normal, jelly - covered way. Then the male wraps the whole package around his back legs and car- ries it with him until the eggs hatch, returning to water to al- low the tadpoles to swim away. Perhaps the most unusual care is found in the Pipa Toads of South America. During mating the fertilised eggs are trapped between the two ani- mals and adhere to the back of the female. The flesh then surrounds the eggs, protecting them from predation. In this cocoon the eggs hatch, and tadpoles develop, emerging out the top of the egg as a fully formed toadlet. The UK has 4 native frogs or toads. The Common Frog can vary in colour but is always easily identified by its smooth skin and ability to leap large distances. Breeding in garden ponds and other open water it is the most widespread of UK species. The Common Toad has much drier and ‘ wartier ’ skin and is more often found away from water. Preferring to breed in deeper water it favours lakes and reservoirs, it is still widespread throughout the UK but habitat loss may be causing a drop in the population. The Natterjack Toad is smaller than the Com- mon Toad and has a distinctive yellow stripe down its back. It favours sandy habitats restricting it to coastlines where there are dune systems and occasional heathland sites. The Pool Frog closely resembles the Common Frog but can be distin- guished by vocal sacs either side of its mouth. Declared extinct in the UK in 1995, successful reintroductions from Scandinavia established this species on several sites in East Anglia. Common toad