Some year 6 boys found what they thought was a frog by one of the school entrances this morning. In fact it was a toad.
There are two kinds of toads native to Britain. These are the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) (see picture above taken by Mr Brook this morning) and the Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita). The Common Toad, as the name suggests, is widespread throughout Britain, although it does not occur in Ireland.
Below is a picture of a common frog.
Frogs and toads look quite similar. However, frogs usually have a smooth, moist skin and spend most of their lives in or near water (their moistness makes them susceptible to drying out). They have longer hind legs than toads and characteristically move by leaping. In contrast, toads usually have a dry, warty-looking skin and spend most of their time living on land. Their hind legs are shorter than frogs and they crawl rather than jump.
Toads are fascinating creatures and there is absolutely no truth to the old wives tale that handling them can give you warts! (Viruses give you warts, not toads.) They should of course always be handled with great care to avoid injuring them. You should also always wash your hands afterwards because of the toxins in the toad's skin.
At this time of year there are lots of toads and frogs about. They are starting their reproduction cycle. This that they will be leaving gardens (or wherever they have stayed for the Winter) or returning to water to reproduce. Amphibians lay their eggs in water but spend much of the year on land.
