May 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Welcome Home Everybody!
In this episode, Rob leads us on a hunt for Frogs and their copper-eyed cousins Toads. We started with a careful walk through the woods at Sheringham Park, dodging the toads crossing our path that were making safe passage to the ponds where they lay their spawn. Rob tells us that toads squeak, so we stopped to investigate.
From Sheringham we jump back into the bus and make our way to another pond at nearby Beeston Common. An army of frogs await us, their soft croaking alerting us to their presence long before we make out their damp, huddled mass in the bright spring sunshine….
LINKS
HomeSounds
Sheringham Park
Beeston Common
Arnold Lobel
HomeSounds Show Supporters Club
In this episode, Rob leads us on a hunt for Frogs and their copper-eyed cousins Toads. We started with a careful walk through the woods at Sheringham Park, dodging the toads crossing our path that were making safe passage to the ponds where they lay their spawn. Rob tells us that toads squeak, so we stopped to investigate.
From Sheringham we jump back into the bus and make our way to another pond at nearby Beeston Common. An army of frogs await us, their soft croaking alerting us to their presence long before we make out their damp, huddled mass in the bright spring sunshine….
LINKS
HomeSounds
Sheringham Park
Beeston Common
Arnold Lobel
HomeSounds Show Supporters Club
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Welcome home, everybody, and welcome to the Home Sound Show.
My name is Martin and I'm a field recordist and teacher.
I'm the creator of the Home Sounds Project and your
co host for the show along with Rob.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Hello everybody. My name is Rob and I'm an educator
and naturalist. I work for the National Trust at Sheringham
Park in Norfolk. As part of their Children and Young
People Hub. Home Sound Show invites everyone to become active
environmental listeners. Each month, we visit a different location, seeking
out seasonal natural sound and focusing on a different theme.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
In this episode, Rob leads us on a hunt for
frogs and their coppy eyed cousins, toads. We started with
a careful walk through the woods at Sheringham Park, dodging
the toads crossing our path that were making safe passage
to the ponds where they lay their spawn. Rob tells
us that toads squeak, so we stopped to investigate. From Showingham,
(01:37):
we jump back into the bus and make our way
to another pond at nearby Beast and Common. An army
of frogs awaits us, their soft croaking, alerting us to
their presence. Long before we make out their damp, huddled
mass and the bright spring sunshine.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Good morning, morning, good morning, good morning. We've got a
wonderful spring day to day, an't we It's raining now,
I reckon unconditionally guaranteed it's going to be a nice
day to day. The plan for today we are going
to be thinking about amphibians.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Amphibian. Does anyone know.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
What I mean by amphibian.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We're talking frogs. We're talking we're talking toads, Charlie, Yes,
we are. And we're also talking news frogs toes news.
That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So and yeah, and obviously that's where we come from.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Start off as spawn, end up as tadpoles, and then
end up as the adults frogs, toads, and newts. So
that's what we're going to be searching for. So it's
been pretty cold last few nights. So have you not
been you've not been camping out by a pond for
the last few nights, because well I have, and it
(03:10):
is pretty cold, but last night was all right. And
it's just the start of the toad and frog migration
season when they come from wherever they are in the
woods and they make their way to.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The ponds to spoil and breathe.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
That's what they do.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
And I'm pretty confident we're going to find some frogs today.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Toads. I've got my fingers crossed. So that's the plan.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So what we're going to do is, first of all,
we're going to look at a place where we might
find some toads, possibly new to hibernating, to look there,
because what they do, we'll be.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Able to we'll be able to hold them.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I think what they do is they spend the time.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
When they're not breeding in the winter time, when it's cold,
like it happened the last few evenings under things themselves.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yeah, under logs and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
So we'll look there to begin with.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Then we're also going to look in the pond.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And while there might not be any toads in the
pond yet, in the first pond we look at, we'll
use some nets to see if we can find First
of all, find some food that they eat, and you
never know, there might be odd newt in there.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
As well, you might try and find.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Then we're gonna go on a bit of mission and
walk down to the toepond, know what it's called, the topon Christen.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
You're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
It's always complicated questions with.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Me, aren't they all.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Okay, we're going to start off here.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Now.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The good thing about this area is there's loads of
well because bugs. But that's good because because frogs and
toads eat bugs. But also there's loads of logs that
things like to get underneath. So our first thing we're
going to do is have a look around here. Lift well,
We're we're not going to tear it apart because obviously
(05:42):
it's the house of these animals, isn't it so well,
So we'll go from tearing it apart to lifting it
carefully and then putting it back. But we're gonna look
at the need to see what we can find. Two things.
Potentially they might be hibernating toads, we've certainly found them
here for and the other thing to look for hibernating newts.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
They look like small lizards.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, Now with either of these animals we can pick
them up. What will happen, what will possibly happen is,
first of all, if you find when I want to
pick one up, that's okay, but.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
You do that.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Also, don't lift it too high too quick, because they
will hop Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Probably not a good idea to put it in your mouth.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And I'll tell you about why you shouldn't put it
in your mouth later, because there is a special reason
if we find.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
A toad, I'll show you. Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So yeah, don't lift it too high. The other thing
it might do it might do a poor on you. Okay,
So just be aware that if you do pick one up,
that might be you'll be running the risk of being
pooed on by toad. Okay, not convincing you, Charlie is
up for that on you. It's on the on the
(07:02):
upside toapo is the sort of colorless liquid.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Okay, it's a colorless liquid. Still it's still a no.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Still a note, what what if it was kind of
add some daily on it? Oh, it might be, might
be convinced now, Okay, Now we have got some pots
as well as well as finding frogs and toad frogs
and toes of newts. Sorry, there might also be some
bugs and some interesting things to find. So if you
(07:30):
want to pick them up and put them in a pot,
you can. The brushes aref for moving things carefully into
the pot rather than picking them up with the fingers. Okay,
let's see what we can find. A way we go,
let's have a look.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Amphibians are cold blooded vertebrates that are distinguished by an
aquatic gill breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung
breathing adult phase. The word amphibian is derived from the
ancient Greek amphibios, meaning both kinds of life, alluding to
this unusual life cycle. Seven species of amphibian are NATed
(08:12):
to Britain, with our fauna comprising two species of frogs,
two species of toads, and three species of mutes. Of
the British amphibians, three of the species are common and widespread,
the appropriately named common frog, the common toad, and the
(08:32):
smooth mute. The other newts, the palmate nut and great
crested mute, are both localised in distribution, and the final
two species, the natterjack toad and the pool frog, only
occur at a few sites nationally. Common frogs and toads
(08:53):
are sometimes mistaken for one another. Frogs are very variable
in colour, and dark brown examples may be in fuse
with toads. A closer examination reveals obvious differences. Frogs have smooth,
moist skin and long back legs adapted for jumping. The
toad's skin is drier, watery, and their short back legs
(09:16):
give them a squat appearance. Additionally, frogs have a distinct
hump two thirds of the way along their back, which
toads lack. Toads crawl or hop rather than the prodigious
leaps which frogs are capable of. Finally, their eyes also differ.
(09:37):
Frogs have a large eye with an oval pupil and
a yellow iris. A toad's eye is an iridescent copper
color with a black horizontal pupil.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Okay, so we have a toad here. Okay, Now we're
going to notice the difference between the toads we're seeing
here and the frogs will see later on this afternoon.
(10:13):
This toad, if you look, he's got bumpy water skin,
he's got a flat back, whereas frogs have got like
an arch back. And the other difference is their eyes.
If you look at their eyes, toads have got this
sort of lovely copper colored eye with an elliptical pupil,
(10:34):
so like a rugby.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Acts, whereas frogs have got a round.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Pupil, so that pupils are difference, So a lot of
people confuse frogs and toads, but they're quite different.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
They're the same in that they both need to return
to the water to breed.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now, Archie was saying about looking a.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Toad, wasn't he.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You really don't want to do that because if you
see the glands behind the toad's arm like this, this
can see it's got ridge behind the eye that contains
a poison called bufotoxin, And there's a it sounds like a.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Band band we are botoxin.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
There's enough botoxin in one toad to probably kill you watching.
So it's it's you'd have to eat the toad to
do that. So it's just it's just a poison gland essentially. Yeah,
but it's a very a very strong poison actually, which
is why nothing really eats toads. So things eat frogs,
(11:46):
but nothing but eats toads. And I reckon from the
size of this. One's a male toad, because the female
toads are a lot bigger. And what they'll tend to
do is the male toad, the male little male toad's.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Got a toad in a casey, all right, I'm just
showing people.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Yeah, yeah, we'll hop onto the back of the big
female toad. I'll hit your ride and they'll stay attached
to the female toad until she's laid her eggs.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
So that's what they do.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
So if you want to hold the two hands, I've
done it before.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
Yeah, primary school.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Now it will hop it won't jump like the frog,
but they do hot occasionally. Yeah, just like that, catch
you on the wares. So I've got a pair of toads. Yeah,
(13:00):
found another one. Yeah, we've got mating pair here. Yeah,
so do you want to come around and have a
look at these?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
You can see here, Yeah, they can see it.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
How much bigger the male the female is to the male,
the female is the big one and the males the
little one.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
And what they'll do is, well.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What happens is the male, the male gives the female
a big hug and he won't let go, and he
won't let go for like he go for like two weeks.
So the male wants to stay with the female. Well,
what will happen is the female then lays the spawn
and if the male is still on her back, he
can then fertilize it. He can fertilize it. All the
(13:57):
fertilization happens externally. But here's a thing. Now the male's
on the female. Another male might come along and get
on the back of the mouth and he wouldn't want that.
So he's got a special way of saying. He's got
a special way of saying.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I'm a dude.
Speaker 8 (14:12):
And it sounds like this, that's saying I'm a man.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Don't bother. This female is already taken. What we're trying
to We're trying to get a recording of this sound.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
It might be quite good. So if we're gonna be
quite for a second.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Yeah, I mean, it might be a little bit mean
for the male frog if we keep doing it all
the time, but if you haven't had just to see
mm hmm, it might be a bit worn out now.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
In between of the eyes it gets.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
So what it will be quite We're trying to get
a recording of this using the microphone.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
So if you will just be quiet for a second.
Speaker 9 (15:31):
Yeah, so cute.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, there we go, There we go. It's pretty strange.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
And the spawn that toads late, it's not like frog spawn,
like a big blob. It's like strings similar, but long strings.
And then obviously, if the male is still on the
female's back, By the time she does that, he's in
prime position to fertilize the spawn and.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Then they become his offspring.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Well, I don't know, but they stay together like this
in this mating hug for about three weeks potentially, and
the danger is, yeah, they don't eat during that time,
so he's just basically just cuddling. And what could the
danger might be. Other males can come on when they're
in the pond and they all have a bit of
(16:31):
a pylon and the female woman is drowning. So that's
the danger. She runs a bit of it. Even though
she's bigger than the males, she can be in danger
of doing that if if, if things don't go smoothly,
So there we go.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Frogs are a classic harbinger of spring and appear on
damp nights as soon as the ground temperature starts to rise.
They are emerging from hibernation, often submerged in mud at
the bottom of a pond or buried in vegetation in
damp places. Males quickly migrate to breeding sites and are
followed by females to form obvious and sometimes spectacular aggregations.
(17:23):
When conditions allow. Post breeding, frogs quickly disappear for the
remaining warm months of the year, and this enigmatic sudden
appearance and vanishing act explains their Latin name Rana temporaria,
or temporary frog. Frogs may be green, yellow, reddish, or
(17:49):
multiple shades of brown, the lower flanks between the front
and back legs gray to a white or gray underside
in male frogs, or a palish yellow in females, with
varied degree of darker mottling. The head, back, and sides
bear dark, blotchy markings that vary in size and intensity
between individuals, with some heavily speckled specimens and others barely
(18:12):
marked at all. This ink spotting effect is likely to
serve as a disruptive camouflage, with environmental and ecological factors
contributing to the variation. As with other amphibians, frogs have
some ability to lighten or darken their body color to
match their background. A dark mask which runs from the
(18:35):
snout and through the eye to form a conspicuous triangular
patch surrounding the ear drum between the eye and the shoulder,
completes the description. At the breeding pond, males quickly grab
(19:00):
an available female in a tight mating embrace. Known as amplexus.
The male frog wraps his arms under the female's armpits
and across her chest, using the nuptial pads described earlier
to grip his slippery partner. Pairs of frogs may remain
coupled for several days or even weeks before spawning occurs.
(19:23):
Calling starts in earnest just prior to ovi position the
laying of it. Spawn. Croaking is low in pitch, and
many males chorusing together produce a continuous humming like the
purr of the four stroke engine. Just prior to the
release of spawn, frogs continue to call constantly throughout the
(19:45):
day and night, and become oblivious to human observers. The
pond is now a hive of activity, with unmated males
continuously grabbing and releasing other individuals in an increasingly desperate search.
A female out of amplexus frogspawn consists of a spherical
(20:09):
black embryo surrounded by transparent jelly. Between a thousand and
two thousand eggs are released by each female, with her
embracing partner ready to fertilize them externally immediately on production.
Post fertilization, both sexes then abandon the spawn and go
their separate ways. The development of spawn into a baby
(20:35):
frog is an amazing process of metamorphosis. The black eggs
quickly develop into comma shapes before transforming into the familiar tadpole.
Frog tadpoles can be distinguished from toad tadpoles by their
pointed tail tip and colouration. Mature frog tadpoles have a
(20:55):
starry sky pattern when observed closely. Toad tadpoles are jet black.
Rear limbs and forelimbs grow in turn before the tail
is finally shed and the baby froglet emerges onto land
some three months after the original spawning. In cold conditions,
(21:16):
the metamorphosis can take longer, and occasionally tadpoles over winter.
Outside of the breeding season, frogs are secretive, living their
lives in damp places and feeding on an invertebrate diet
of worms and insect larvae. They reach sexual maturity at
(21:37):
around three years old and may live as long as
ten years. Frogs have declined in the wider countryside, but
find refuge in garden ponds, which have helped maintain a
healthy population with these charismatic amphibians in the UK.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah, where it stick.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Down, Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
Yeah, you can turn about the site of.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
The patry prescial.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Like you.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
My hand.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
When I first meeting shown ahead, were just.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Sign before you go today.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
Say what the frogs, We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
At the end of.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah, brilliant.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Right h.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Frog and Toad spring Frog run up the path to
Toad's house. He knocked on the front door.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Toad.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Toad shouted, Frog, wake up, it is spring, nah, said
a voice from inside the house Toad.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Toad cried, Frog.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
The sun is shining, the snow is melting. Wake up,
I am not here, said the voice. Frog walked into
the house.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
It was dark.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
All the shutters were closed. Toad, where are you? Called? Frog?
Go away, said the voice from a corner of the room.
Toad was lying in bed. He had pulled all the
bedclothes over his head. Frog pushed Toad out of bed.
(25:49):
He pushed him out of the house and onto the
front porch. Toad blinked in the bright sun. Help said Toad.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
I can not see anything.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Don't be silly, said Frog. What you see is the clear,
warm light of April, and it means that we can
begin a whole new year together. Toad. Think of it.
Said Frog. We will skip through the meadows and run
through the woods and swim in the river. In the evenings,
(26:24):
we will sit here on this front porch and count
the stars. You can count them, Frog said Toad. I
will be too tired. I am going back to bed.
Toad went back into the house. He got into the
bed and pulled the bedclothes over his head again. But
(26:47):
Toad cried, Frog, you will miss all the fun. Listen, Frog,
said Toad. How long have I been asleep. I've been
asleep since November, said Frog. Well, then said Toad, a
little more sleep will not hurt me. Come back again
(27:10):
and wake me up at about half past May. Good night, Frog,
But Toad said Frog, I will be lonely until then.
Toad didn't answer, he had fallen asleep. Frog looked at
(27:32):
Toad's calendar. The November page was still on top. Frog
tore off the November page. He tore off the December page,
and the January page, the February page, and the March page.
He came to the April page. Frog tore off the
(27:53):
April page.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
Two.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Then Frog ran back to Toad's bed. Toad, Toad, wake up.
It is May now, what said Toad. Can it be
made so soon? Yes, said Frog. Look at your calendar.
Toad looked at the calendar. The lay page was on top.
(28:22):
Why it is may, said Toad as he climbed out
of the bed. Then he and Frog ran outside to
see how the world was looking.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Spryer, h m h.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
M hmmmmmmmm, you've been listening to Thanks go to the
staff and kids of Sidestround School and to Arnold LaBelle
for his peerless tales of Frog and Toad. Links relating
(29:29):
to this episode can be found in the description thanks
for listening, and welcome home everybody.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Mm hmmm mm hmmm, hm
Speaker 9 (29:59):
Hm
Welcome home, everybody, and welcome to the Home Sound Show.
My name is Martin and I'm a field recordist and teacher.
I'm the creator of the Home Sounds Project and your
co host for the show along with Rob.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Hello everybody. My name is Rob and I'm an educator
and naturalist. I work for the National Trust at Sheringham
Park in Norfolk. As part of their Children and Young
People Hub. Home Sound Show invites everyone to become active
environmental listeners. Each month, we visit a different location, seeking
out seasonal natural sound and focusing on a different theme.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
In this episode, Rob leads us on a hunt for
frogs and their coppy eyed cousins, toads. We started with
a careful walk through the woods at Sheringham Park, dodging
the toads crossing our path that were making safe passage
to the ponds where they lay their spawn. Rob tells
us that toads squeak, so we stopped to investigate. From Showingham,
(01:37):
we jump back into the bus and make our way
to another pond at nearby Beast and Common. An army
of frogs awaits us, their soft croaking, alerting us to
their presence. Long before we make out their damp, huddled
mass and the bright spring sunshine.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Good morning, morning, good morning, good morning. We've got a
wonderful spring day to day, an't we It's raining now,
I reckon unconditionally guaranteed it's going to be a nice
day to day. The plan for today we are going
to be thinking about amphibians.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Amphibian. Does anyone know.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
What I mean by amphibian.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We're talking frogs. We're talking we're talking toads, Charlie, Yes,
we are. And we're also talking news frogs toes news.
That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So and yeah, and obviously that's where we come from.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Start off as spawn, end up as tadpoles, and then
end up as the adults frogs, toads, and newts. So
that's what we're going to be searching for. So it's
been pretty cold last few nights. So have you not
been you've not been camping out by a pond for
the last few nights, because well I have, and it
(03:10):
is pretty cold, but last night was all right. And
it's just the start of the toad and frog migration
season when they come from wherever they are in the
woods and they make their way to.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
The ponds to spoil and breathe.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
That's what they do.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
And I'm pretty confident we're going to find some frogs today.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Toads. I've got my fingers crossed. So that's the plan.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So what we're going to do is, first of all,
we're going to look at a place where we might
find some toads, possibly new to hibernating, to look there,
because what they do, we'll be.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Able to we'll be able to hold them.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I think what they do is they spend the time.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
When they're not breeding in the winter time, when it's cold,
like it happened the last few evenings under things themselves.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yeah, under logs and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
So we'll look there to begin with.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Then we're also going to look in the pond.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And while there might not be any toads in the
pond yet, in the first pond we look at, we'll
use some nets to see if we can find First
of all, find some food that they eat, and you
never know, there might be odd newt in there.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
As well, you might try and find.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Then we're gonna go on a bit of mission and
walk down to the toepond, know what it's called, the topon Christen.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
You're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
It's always complicated questions with.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Me, aren't they all.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Okay, we're going to start off here.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Now.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The good thing about this area is there's loads of
well because bugs. But that's good because because frogs and
toads eat bugs. But also there's loads of logs that
things like to get underneath. So our first thing we're
going to do is have a look around here. Lift well,
We're we're not going to tear it apart because obviously
(05:42):
it's the house of these animals, isn't it so well,
So we'll go from tearing it apart to lifting it
carefully and then putting it back. But we're gonna look
at the need to see what we can find. Two things.
Potentially they might be hibernating toads, we've certainly found them
here for and the other thing to look for hibernating newts.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
They look like small lizards.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, Now with either of these animals we can pick
them up. What will happen, what will possibly happen is,
first of all, if you find when I want to
pick one up, that's okay, but.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
You do that.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Also, don't lift it too high too quick, because they
will hop Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Probably not a good idea to put it in your mouth.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And I'll tell you about why you shouldn't put it
in your mouth later, because there is a special reason
if we find.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
A toad, I'll show you. Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So yeah, don't lift it too high. The other thing
it might do it might do a poor on you. Okay,
So just be aware that if you do pick one up,
that might be you'll be running the risk of being
pooed on by toad. Okay, not convincing you, Charlie is
up for that on you. It's on the on the
(07:02):
upside toapo is the sort of colorless liquid.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Okay, it's a colorless liquid. Still it's still a no.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Still a note, what what if it was kind of
add some daily on it? Oh, it might be, might
be convinced now, Okay, Now we have got some pots
as well as well as finding frogs and toad frogs
and toes of newts. Sorry, there might also be some
bugs and some interesting things to find. So if you
(07:30):
want to pick them up and put them in a pot,
you can. The brushes aref for moving things carefully into
the pot rather than picking them up with the fingers. Okay,
let's see what we can find. A way we go,
let's have a look.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Amphibians are cold blooded vertebrates that are distinguished by an
aquatic gill breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung
breathing adult phase. The word amphibian is derived from the
ancient Greek amphibios, meaning both kinds of life, alluding to
this unusual life cycle. Seven species of amphibian are NATed
(08:12):
to Britain, with our fauna comprising two species of frogs,
two species of toads, and three species of mutes. Of
the British amphibians, three of the species are common and widespread,
the appropriately named common frog, the common toad, and the
(08:32):
smooth mute. The other newts, the palmate nut and great
crested mute, are both localised in distribution, and the final
two species, the natterjack toad and the pool frog, only
occur at a few sites nationally. Common frogs and toads
(08:53):
are sometimes mistaken for one another. Frogs are very variable
in colour, and dark brown examples may be in fuse
with toads. A closer examination reveals obvious differences. Frogs have smooth,
moist skin and long back legs adapted for jumping. The
toad's skin is drier, watery, and their short back legs
(09:16):
give them a squat appearance. Additionally, frogs have a distinct
hump two thirds of the way along their back, which
toads lack. Toads crawl or hop rather than the prodigious
leaps which frogs are capable of. Finally, their eyes also differ.
(09:37):
Frogs have a large eye with an oval pupil and
a yellow iris. A toad's eye is an iridescent copper
color with a black horizontal pupil.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Okay, so we have a toad here. Okay, Now we're
going to notice the difference between the toads we're seeing
here and the frogs will see later on this afternoon.
(10:13):
This toad, if you look, he's got bumpy water skin,
he's got a flat back, whereas frogs have got like
an arch back. And the other difference is their eyes.
If you look at their eyes, toads have got this
sort of lovely copper colored eye with an elliptical pupil,
(10:34):
so like a rugby.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Acts, whereas frogs have got a round.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Pupil, so that pupils are difference, So a lot of
people confuse frogs and toads, but they're quite different.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
They're the same in that they both need to return
to the water to breed.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now, Archie was saying about looking a.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Toad, wasn't he.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You really don't want to do that because if you
see the glands behind the toad's arm like this, this
can see it's got ridge behind the eye that contains
a poison called bufotoxin, And there's a it sounds like a.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Band band we are botoxin.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
There's enough botoxin in one toad to probably kill you watching.
So it's it's you'd have to eat the toad to
do that. So it's just it's just a poison gland essentially. Yeah,
but it's a very a very strong poison actually, which
is why nothing really eats toads. So things eat frogs,
(11:46):
but nothing but eats toads. And I reckon from the
size of this. One's a male toad, because the female
toads are a lot bigger. And what they'll tend to
do is the male toad, the male little male toad's.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Got a toad in a casey, all right, I'm just
showing people.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Yeah, yeah, we'll hop onto the back of the big
female toad. I'll hit your ride and they'll stay attached
to the female toad until she's laid her eggs.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
So that's what they do.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
So if you want to hold the two hands, I've
done it before.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
Yeah, primary school.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Now it will hop it won't jump like the frog,
but they do hot occasionally. Yeah, just like that, catch
you on the wares. So I've got a pair of toads. Yeah,
(13:00):
found another one. Yeah, we've got mating pair here. Yeah,
so do you want to come around and have a
look at these?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
You can see here, Yeah, they can see it.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
How much bigger the male the female is to the male,
the female is the big one and the males the
little one.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
And what they'll do is, well.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What happens is the male, the male gives the female
a big hug and he won't let go, and he
won't let go for like he go for like two weeks.
So the male wants to stay with the female. Well,
what will happen is the female then lays the spawn
and if the male is still on her back, he
can then fertilize it. He can fertilize it. All the
(13:57):
fertilization happens externally. But here's a thing. Now the male's
on the female. Another male might come along and get
on the back of the mouth and he wouldn't want that.
So he's got a special way of saying. He's got
a special way of saying.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I'm a dude.
Speaker 8 (14:12):
And it sounds like this, that's saying I'm a man.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Don't bother. This female is already taken. What we're trying
to We're trying to get a recording of this sound.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
It might be quite good. So if we're gonna be
quite for a second.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Yeah, I mean, it might be a little bit mean
for the male frog if we keep doing it all
the time, but if you haven't had just to see
mm hmm, it might be a bit worn out now.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
In between of the eyes it gets.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
So what it will be quite We're trying to get
a recording of this using the microphone.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
So if you will just be quiet for a second.
Speaker 9 (15:31):
Yeah, so cute.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, there we go, There we go. It's pretty strange.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
And the spawn that toads late, it's not like frog spawn,
like a big blob. It's like strings similar, but long strings.
And then obviously, if the male is still on the
female's back, By the time she does that, he's in
prime position to fertilize the spawn and.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Then they become his offspring.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Well, I don't know, but they stay together like this
in this mating hug for about three weeks potentially, and
the danger is, yeah, they don't eat during that time,
so he's just basically just cuddling. And what could the
danger might be. Other males can come on when they're
in the pond and they all have a bit of
(16:31):
a pylon and the female woman is drowning. So that's
the danger. She runs a bit of it. Even though
she's bigger than the males, she can be in danger
of doing that if if, if things don't go smoothly,
So there we go.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Frogs are a classic harbinger of spring and appear on
damp nights as soon as the ground temperature starts to rise.
They are emerging from hibernation, often submerged in mud at
the bottom of a pond or buried in vegetation in
damp places. Males quickly migrate to breeding sites and are
followed by females to form obvious and sometimes spectacular aggregations.
(17:23):
When conditions allow. Post breeding, frogs quickly disappear for the
remaining warm months of the year, and this enigmatic sudden
appearance and vanishing act explains their Latin name Rana temporaria,
or temporary frog. Frogs may be green, yellow, reddish, or
(17:49):
multiple shades of brown, the lower flanks between the front
and back legs gray to a white or gray underside
in male frogs, or a palish yellow in females, with
varied degree of darker mottling. The head, back, and sides
bear dark, blotchy markings that vary in size and intensity
between individuals, with some heavily speckled specimens and others barely
(18:12):
marked at all. This ink spotting effect is likely to
serve as a disruptive camouflage, with environmental and ecological factors
contributing to the variation. As with other amphibians, frogs have
some ability to lighten or darken their body color to
match their background. A dark mask which runs from the
(18:35):
snout and through the eye to form a conspicuous triangular
patch surrounding the ear drum between the eye and the shoulder,
completes the description. At the breeding pond, males quickly grab
(19:00):
an available female in a tight mating embrace. Known as amplexus.
The male frog wraps his arms under the female's armpits
and across her chest, using the nuptial pads described earlier
to grip his slippery partner. Pairs of frogs may remain
coupled for several days or even weeks before spawning occurs.
(19:23):
Calling starts in earnest just prior to ovi position the
laying of it. Spawn. Croaking is low in pitch, and
many males chorusing together produce a continuous humming like the
purr of the four stroke engine. Just prior to the
release of spawn, frogs continue to call constantly throughout the
(19:45):
day and night, and become oblivious to human observers. The
pond is now a hive of activity, with unmated males
continuously grabbing and releasing other individuals in an increasingly desperate search.
A female out of amplexus frogspawn consists of a spherical
(20:09):
black embryo surrounded by transparent jelly. Between a thousand and
two thousand eggs are released by each female, with her
embracing partner ready to fertilize them externally immediately on production.
Post fertilization, both sexes then abandon the spawn and go
their separate ways. The development of spawn into a baby
(20:35):
frog is an amazing process of metamorphosis. The black eggs
quickly develop into comma shapes before transforming into the familiar tadpole.
Frog tadpoles can be distinguished from toad tadpoles by their
pointed tail tip and colouration. Mature frog tadpoles have a
(20:55):
starry sky pattern when observed closely. Toad tadpoles are jet black.
Rear limbs and forelimbs grow in turn before the tail
is finally shed and the baby froglet emerges onto land
some three months after the original spawning. In cold conditions,
(21:16):
the metamorphosis can take longer, and occasionally tadpoles over winter.
Outside of the breeding season, frogs are secretive, living their
lives in damp places and feeding on an invertebrate diet
of worms and insect larvae. They reach sexual maturity at
(21:37):
around three years old and may live as long as
ten years. Frogs have declined in the wider countryside, but
find refuge in garden ponds, which have helped maintain a
healthy population with these charismatic amphibians in the UK.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah, where it stick.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Down, Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
Yeah, you can turn about the site of.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
The patry prescial.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Like you.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
My hand.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
When I first meeting shown ahead, were just.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Sign before you go today.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
Say what the frogs, We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
At the end of.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah, brilliant.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Right h.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Frog and Toad spring Frog run up the path to
Toad's house. He knocked on the front door.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Toad.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Toad shouted, Frog, wake up, it is spring, nah, said
a voice from inside the house Toad.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Toad cried, Frog.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
The sun is shining, the snow is melting. Wake up,
I am not here, said the voice. Frog walked into
the house.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
It was dark.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
All the shutters were closed. Toad, where are you? Called? Frog?
Go away, said the voice from a corner of the room.
Toad was lying in bed. He had pulled all the
bedclothes over his head. Frog pushed Toad out of bed.
(25:49):
He pushed him out of the house and onto the
front porch. Toad blinked in the bright sun. Help said Toad.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
I can not see anything.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Don't be silly, said Frog. What you see is the clear,
warm light of April, and it means that we can
begin a whole new year together. Toad. Think of it.
Said Frog. We will skip through the meadows and run
through the woods and swim in the river. In the evenings,
(26:24):
we will sit here on this front porch and count
the stars. You can count them, Frog said Toad. I
will be too tired. I am going back to bed.
Toad went back into the house. He got into the
bed and pulled the bedclothes over his head again. But
(26:47):
Toad cried, Frog, you will miss all the fun. Listen, Frog,
said Toad. How long have I been asleep. I've been
asleep since November, said Frog. Well, then said Toad, a
little more sleep will not hurt me. Come back again
(27:10):
and wake me up at about half past May. Good night, Frog,
But Toad said Frog, I will be lonely until then.
Toad didn't answer, he had fallen asleep. Frog looked at
(27:32):
Toad's calendar. The November page was still on top. Frog
tore off the November page. He tore off the December page,
and the January page, the February page, and the March page.
He came to the April page. Frog tore off the
(27:53):
April page.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
Two.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Then Frog ran back to Toad's bed. Toad, Toad, wake up.
It is May now, what said Toad. Can it be
made so soon? Yes, said Frog. Look at your calendar.
Toad looked at the calendar. The lay page was on top.
(28:22):
Why it is may, said Toad as he climbed out
of the bed. Then he and Frog ran outside to
see how the world was looking.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Spryer, h m h.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
M hmmmmmmmm, you've been listening to Thanks go to the
staff and kids of Sidestround School and to Arnold LaBelle
for his peerless tales of Frog and Toad. Links relating
(29:29):
to this episode can be found in the description thanks
for listening, and welcome home everybody.
Speaker 6 (29:35):
Mm hmmm mm hmmm, hm
Speaker 9 (29:59):
Hm
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!