Baby toads

fairy frogmother · #1 (**permalink**) 21-05-2009, 02:29 PM

I wonder if anyone can answer this question as I have searched unsuccesfully for an answer.

Today in my small pond I found the tiniest toad I have ever seen. It was no bigger than my middle fingernail (about 1 - 1.5cm), yet perfectly recognisable as a toad (shape and the crawl rather than the hop). I am somewhat mystified as the current years toad poles are not anywhere near toadlet stage and I would have thought it would have been much bigger if it was from last years crop. There is no way that he/she overwintered in my pond as I dug and extended my pond this year and there was no sign of any poles then. Also as yet toads have not used either my old pond or my new one, instead breeding in the one next door. I am not sure they would have overwintered there either as the owner cleans out the ponds to within an inch of their life fairly early in the season.

Anyway, my question is about sizes of year old toads. Is there any one out there who can solve this little mystery?

marvin · #2 (**permalink**) 21-05-2009, 04:40 PM

hi

my experience is that toad yearlings are generally smaller than frog yearlings. i have both in my garden and the difference is significant. this is purely anecdotal of course but i hope it helps.

tim

fairy frogmother · #3 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 03:22 AM

I managed to get a couple of pictures.

How cute is he

Hedge Witch · #4 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 07:38 AM

Cute!

I had hoped someone would know the answer to your question. With frogs, some can overwinter in the tadpole stage in the pond. Maybe this toadlet is one of last years that has just emerged from another of your neighbours' ponds

(I don't know whether they do this.)

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 10:15 AM

This toad is definately one of this years, a toad a year old would be significantly larger.

marvin · #6 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 12:04 PM

hi

i agree with dogghound. there is also a stubby tail so it looks like the taddies must have overwintered.

tim

fairy frogmother · #7 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 01:33 AM

Thanks for answering my question.

It is still round the pond today so I am really hoping it returns here when it is old enough to breed. On the downside I am having to be extremely careful about where I stand