fishydreams

It´s a few weeks now since I started noticing the new generation of toads put in an appearance as the dogs and I walked the quite roads and tracks of the campo in the early morning. They were tiny – about the size of the nail of my little finger and, if they were inclined to stay still, they could be tricky to spot.

They seem to be thriving, these little toads, and they have grown a little in the last few weeks. The dogs take little interest in them but I think they are very cute. On most walks I would see a few and the most I counted was 11. From little finger nail size, they have grown to the size of a thumb nail! If they survive they might grow to somewhere between 5 and 9 cm.

Today I managed to take a half-decent photo of one of these little critters and it was enough to identify it as a natterjack, a species that seems to be quite common here. A distinctive line running along the middle of the back seems to be enough to distinguish them from the other toad species.

We had a rainy spring this year and there were enough temporary pools around to allow the toads to spawn successfully. Sometimes temporary pools dry out before the young are mature enough to survive but the toads take their chances whenever they can and this year I think they should do better than usual. Let´s hope so.

It is a long time since I came across an adult but I managed to take a few snaps way back in 2016 and will add it here. It always amazes me that amphibians survive in the campo when it is so hot and dry for much of the year but the natterjacks seem to have adapted very well. They ramble around at night, often covering surprising distances while snacking on insects and other invertebrates. I imagine they spend the day hidden away somewhere enjoying a protracted siesta.

I know these little toads have a long way to go but we can only wish them well. If they avoid the various hazards that are bound to come their way they could make it to the ripe old age of 12.

Good luck to them!

If things work out well it may well become a splendid specimen tike this one……..