Sussex Native Amphibians
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Natterjack Toad
The natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) is a toad native to sandy and heathland areas of Europe. Probably common at one time on Sussex heaths, but now very restricted.  Adults are 60–70 mm in length, and are distinguished from common toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back, and parallel paratoid glands. They have relatively short legs, which gives them a distinctive gait, contrasting with the hopping movement of many other toad species.

Natterjacks have a very loud and distinctive mating call amplified by the single vocal sac found under the chin of the male; their name literally means the chattering toad – the jack (or toad) that natters.
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Barry Kemp Photo
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Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris

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Photo by Barry Kemp
The smooth newt adults are between 6 and 10 cm in length.  During the breeding season males acquire a high undulating crest along the back and tail.  Their coloration is consistently brown with dark spots.  The belly is yellow to orange with dark blotches.  In both males and females there are spots on the throat.  Smooth newts lay eggs singly on the leaves of aquatic plants.  Smooth newt tadpoles (efts) have external gills and are indistinguishable from palmate newt larvae
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Common Toad Bufo bufo

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Photo by Barry Kemp
The common toad can grow up to around 13 cm in length for females, males up to 8 cm.  Their coloration is more consistently brown, although orange or nearly black animals can occur.  The skin is warty, and there are twoclearly pronounced glands behind the eyes.  Their legs are relatively short, and toads tend to walk or hop rather than leap.  Toads lay eggs in strings of spawn often wrapped around submerged vegetation.  Toad tadpoles are almost black and uniform in colour.

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Photo by Barry Kemp
Common Frog, Rana Temporaria
The most familiar of our amphibians, the common frog can grow up to around 10 cm in length.  Their coloration is very variable, as are the markings.  Most frogs are greenish, brown or grey, although yellow, orange and red animals can occur.  There is a dark mask behind the eye, and the skin is smooth and moist.  Frogs lay eggs in clumps of spawn that float just below the surface of the water.  Tadpoles are dark brown but with clearly defined golden speckles.

Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus

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Photo by Barry Kemp
The palmate newt adults usually reach about 7 cm in length, and rarely up to 9cms.  Males have more of a ridge than a crest along the back.  They also develop complete dark-coloured webs between the toes of the hind feet, and a short thread-like tail filament from a truncated tail end during the breeding season.  Their coloration is brown to olive-brown with a pale straw to orange belly.  In both males and females there are few if any spots on the throat.  Palmates lay eggs singly on the leaves of aquatic plants


Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus                                                                                                            Link to Crested Newts and the Law

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Photo by Barry Kemp
The great crested newt adults can reach a maximum length of 16 cm and have a dark brown or black, warty appearance.  During the breeding season males acquire a high jagged crest along the back and another on the tail.  The belly is bright orange with dark blotches.  The great crested newts lay their eggs singly on the leaves of aquatic plants.  These eggs are distinguishable from the eggs of other newt species by being larger (4.5 mm rather than 3 mm) and being a “clean” lemon-yellow colour as opposed to a dirty yellow or cream.  Fully developed great crested newt larvae can be distinguished from other species by their larger size (5 – 8 cm rather than 3 – 4 cm).  Great crested newts are protected by the law.
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