Natterjack Toad

Fascinating facts about the Natterjack Toad

• Dr. Trevor Beebee's 2013 study found that natterjack toads can breed in pools as small as a bathtub, with some 150 toads squeeze- breeding in a single 2x2 meter puddle. This reveals their adaptation to ephemeral water bodies.
• Natterjack toads migrate up to 1.6 kilometres to reach their breeding sites, a long distance for their 6-8 centimetre bodies. This journey is equivalent to a human walking 120 miles non-stop.
• In a single night, a natterjack toad can eat 100-200 tiny insects, with some toads consuming their own body weight in food. This voracious appetite helps them store energy for their long migrations.
• Natterjack toads can dig burrows 60 centimetres deep, allowing them to shelter from extreme temperatures and hide from predators. These underground tunnels are like intricate networks, with some toads using them to escape the heat.
• Despite being listed as Least Concern, natterjack toad populations are often fragmented, with some areas having as few as 20 breeding males. Conservation efforts focus on reconnecting these isolated groups, ensuring the species' long-term survival in their sandy heathland habitats.

At a glance

About the Natterjack Toad

In the warm, golden light of a summer's evening, the natterjack toad emerges from its subterranean hiding places, its spindly legs carrying it with a curious, loping gait across the sandy dunes and heathlands it calls home. As it moves, its mottled brown skin blends seamlessly into the surroundings, allowing it to navigate this fragile, ephemeral world with stealth and precision. With a chorus of rasping, melodic calls, the natterjack toad announces its presence to the world, a primal, haunting sound that echoes across the landscape like a whispered secret.

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