The Common Toad ,or Bufo bufo, is a lot larger and brutish than its common frog cousin. They are found all over Europe and as far as Asia/Africa.
Like the common frog and Crested Newt, the toad is an amphibian. Unlike its relatives
the toad is not as reliant on water. They only return to a body of water when it’s
time to breed, but still inhabit damp environments. Toads also start life as a tadpole,
this is why their parents return to water in the breeding season.
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| Common Toad ,or Bufo bufo |
Moving away from amphibians I now wish to
look at insects. The Gerridae or “Pond Skaters” as they are more commonly named,
are one of the most commonly sported pond inhabitants. They are a small insect which
live on the pond surfs. They mainly feed on small dead/ dying insects which are
floating on the pond water. They have the remarkable ability to walk on water. They
can do this because of microscopic hairs on the legs which repel the water. Because
of their specially evolved limbs, they find movement on land difficult.
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| "Gerridae" or “Pond Skater" |
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